{"id":14740,"date":"2013-12-23T06:07:20","date_gmt":"2013-12-23T11:07:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/\/us\/?p=14740"},"modified":"2014-10-08T08:01:52","modified_gmt":"2014-10-08T13:01:52","slug":"christmas-thoughts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banneroftruth.org\/us\/resources\/articles\/2013\/christmas-thoughts\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Thoughts"},"content":{"rendered":"

First a confession: Christmas is not my favourite time of year. This is partly due to temperament; I don\u2019t particularly enjoy the \u2018jollity\u2019 of the season (my children will testify that there is something of the \u2018bah humbug\u2019 in their father at this time of year). However, Christmas does present us with a focused opportunity to reflect on the surpassing wonder of the incarnation of God the Son in the womb of the virgin Mary.<\/p>\n

Consider this, <\/p>\n

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
\nhail the incarnate deity\u2019<\/p>\n

Lo within a manger lies
\nhe who built the starry skies<\/p>\n

Thou who was rich beyond all splendour,
\nall for love\u2019s sake becamest poor.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These familiar words faithfully reflect the unembarrassed supernaturalism of Christ\u2019s advent. They remind us that Christianity stands in frontal opposition to the arid materialism and secularism of this age and every age. In the unfathomable incarnation of his Son, God has perforated time and space with grace and glory. In the person of the eternal Son our frail humanity was joined to his unabridged deity so that he might do for us what we could never do for ourselves, live a sinless life and die a sin-bearing, sin-atoning death.<\/p>\n

Let us all pray that the jollity of the season will not blind us to the glory of the incarnation. Like Mary, let us \u2018ponder\u2019 these things in our hearts (Luke<\/i> 2:19).<\/p>\n

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS<\/h2>\n

Good Books – A man and woman\u2019s (nearly) Best Friend! Wondering what to buy someone you love for Christmas? Wonder no more. Buy them a book. Here are a few suggestions:<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s Study Ephesians<\/i>1<\/a><\/sup> by Sinclair B. Ferguson (Banner of Truth). A very readable, engaging commentary on the Apostle Paul\u2019s wonderful exposition of the gospel. Cheap and edifying!<\/p>\n

Catechizing our Children: The Whys and Hows of Teaching the Shorter Catechism Today<\/i>2<\/a><\/sup> by Terry L Johnson (Banner of Truth). Great help for parents from Dr Johnson (the alive one, minister of Independent Presbyterian Church, Savannah).<\/p>\n

The Confessions<\/i> by Saint Augustine (Oxford World Classics edition). This 300-page prose prayer is a masterpiece of spiritual autobiography. It is a compelling, if not always easy, read. For the serious reader. Wonderful.<\/p>\n

Isaiah by the Day<\/i> by Alec Motyer (Christian Focus). This is an outstanding, enriching tour through Isaiah. Dr Motyer writes with warmth and deep insight. Indeed, anything by Motyer is worth having and reading – he is that good!<\/p>\n

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Notes<\/h3>\n
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