Author: John Page 150 of 166

Philippians 2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”

For us, our Lord took upon Himself the likeness of men.  In the ultimate demonstration of humility and obedience, Christ came to earth in the form of a servant.  Philippians 2:8 reinforces this message in a poignant way: “and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

As we celebrate Christmas tomorrow, let our minds be molded into the perspective of Christ.  If American Christians would truly embrace such humility and obedience as we consider Christ’s birth, then a revival of unrivaled scope would sweep across this land.  To be part of such a nation-changing transformation would be a wonderful gift, both for us and for our future generations.

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD LET THE TRUTHS OF CHRISTMAS TRANSFORM OUR MINDS AND DIRECT OUR PATHS.  Have a blessed Christmas!

John 1:10-14 “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

President Reagan delivered the following Christmas message on his first Christmas Eve in the White House, December 24, 1981:

“Through a generous Heavenly Father’s gift of His son, hope and compassion entered a world weary with fear and despair and changed it for all time.  On Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ with prayer, feasting, and great merriment.  But, most of all, we experience it in our hearts.  For, more than just a day, Christmas is a state of mind.  It is found throughout the year whenever faith overcomes doubt, hope conquers despair, and love triumphs over hate.”

Because the Word was made flesh, celebrated on Christmas Day, we can have faith, hope and love.  Through the miracle of the Saviour’s birth, we can defeat doubt, despair, and hate.  As weary as we have become in today’s America, we have reason to rejoice because of our generous Heavenly Father’s gift.  Let us celebrate Christ this Christmas, and recognize that the gift given that first Christmas morning did indeed change things for all time.  The power of that gift can just an easily change the things in America that make us so weary.  PLEASE PRAY THAT THE FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE PROVIDED BY CHRIST WOULD SWEEP ACROSS OUR NATION.

Romans 14:11-12 “For it is written, As I live saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

There is an alternative to voluntarily bowing the knee to the Lord, involuntarily doing so.  Before we are brought to our knees, we should humbly bring ourselves there first.  This admonition applies to individuals and communities.  It applied to the nation of Israel, and it applies to our nation as well.

The most strident atheist shall bow.  The worldliest Christian shall bow.  The most impassioned advocate for separation of church and state shall bow.  The most apathetic church-goer shall bow.  Those who provide the strongest opposition to Christian values shall bow.  Those whose testimonies hinder the cause of Christ shall bow.

Those who oppose nativity scenes in our public places shall bow.  Those who refuse to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ shall bow.  Those who misinterpret the Establishment Clause of the Constitution shall bow.  Those who deny our nation’s Christian heritage shall bow.  Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess; each will give an account of himself before God.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICA, LED BY FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS, WOULD VOLUNTARILY BOW OUR KNEES TO THE LORD.  As a nation, we best do so before we are involuntarily brought to our knees.

Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Psalm 95:6 “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.”

This past Friday night, the local public high school played in the State Championship football game, losing after a hard-fought battle.  Yet, far more impressive than their football prowess is their faith-filled perspective.  The attached picture appeared on the front page of the local paper several weeks ago, taken after a game to capture their regular postgame devotional and prayer.

Yes, the football players at this PUBLIC high school pray together after their games.  Yes, this PUBLIC high school allows one of their coaches to lead the team in a postgame Christian devotion.  Yes, there are news organizations in this country that uplift such humble obedience to Christ.  Yes, there are communities in this country that are unashamedly rooted in the gospel.  Yes, there are still places in this country where knees publically bow to worship the Lord.

It is right that they should kneel before the Lord.  It is challenging and encouraging that they do kneel before the Lord.  It is right that they should worship and bow down.  It is challenging and encouraging that they do worship and bow down.  It is right that their tongues should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  It is challenging and encouraging that their tongues do confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Every knee should bow.  Every tongue should confess.  These truths should be on our minds particularly as we approach the celebration of the birth of our Saviour.

PLEASE PRAY THAT INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES IN THIS LAND WOULD HUMBLY BOW TO THE LORD AND PROUDLY CONFESS THE NAME OF CHRIST.  We should do so worshipfully.  We should do so publically.  We should do so reverently.  We should do so recognizing that His name is above all names.

Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Regarding his experience in a Nazi concentration camp, Viktor Frankl wrote the following:

“And there were always choices to make.  Every day, every hour, offered the opportunity to make a decision, a decision which determined whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threatened to rob you of your very self, your inner freedom; which determined whether or not you would become a plaything of circumstance, renouncing freedom and dignity to become molded into the form of a typical inmate.”

As Christians, we should never confine ourselves to the dictates of our circumstances.  We serve a God who is far greater than our circumstances, and far more powerful than the immediate contextual constraints of our lives.

Specifically regarding our role as American Christians, we have choices to make.  We could allow our current culture to dictate our personal convictions.  We could allow our current culture to deny our nation’s Christian heritage.  We could allow our current culture to define the limits of our faithfulness.  We could allow our current culture to destroy our institutional foundations.  We could allow our circumstances to rob us of our freedom, our dignity, and our spiritual fervency.

If we do these things, then our current culture will determine the future direction of this nation absent our Christian influence.  Or, we can make different decisions, every day, every hour.  We could refuse to become playthings of our cultural circumstances and instead cling to the promises of our powerful Provider.  PLEASE PRAY THAT TODAY’S AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD MAKE THE DAILY DECISION TO RELY UPON CHRIST INSTEAD OF CIRCUMSTANCE.  Our Lord stands by to strengthen us.