Five Days Out

"We must both read and meditate on the Nativity.  If the meditation does not reach the heart, we shall sense no sweetness, nor shall we know what solace for humankind lies in this contemplation.  The heart will not laugh nor be merry.  As spray does not touch the deep, so mere meditation will not quiet the heart.  There is such richness and goodness in this nativity that if we should see and deeply understand, we should be dissolved in perpetual joy."
~Martin Luther

The scene in Luke 2 does lead to perpetual joy.  Come April 8th, 2012, we will have been through the agony of Good Friday and will be celebrating His resurrection.  This year, I cannot forget that.  It’s why He came.

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5: 17-19

And this is why He came.  The Scripture that replayed in my mind last year and was Luke 2:6 and if you could do this sort of thing in Scripture, a magnificent drumroll would be inserted, most certainly, right here, 

“While they were there, the TIME came for the baby to be born.”  

The TIME came this unfathomable plan, "justification and life” to be set in motion and for the “gift of righteousness” to be given.  

We are five days out.  Let’s meditate deeply and be “dissolved in perpetual joy.”

Glory to God in the highest.