Before Abraham Was Born, I AM

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Before Abraham Was Born,  I AM

As people prepare  to celebrate Christmas each year,  very little thought  is given to Jesus Christ.      Although December 25  was set aside  to celebrate the birth of Christ,  nobody knows  His birth date.      God evidently  quietly wants it that way.      Judging from how people have been acting  while shopping  on Black Friday,  they don’t even care  that Jesus was born.

People have been grabbing  Christmas bargains,  shoving each other around,  and stepping over a man  who was dying.      The Savior has come,  but nobody has time  for Him.      They just want  Christmas stuff.      The supposed celebration  of Christ’s birth  has become a sham — a sham  in which presents,  Santa,  decorations,  trees,  and baubles  are more important  than having sins forgiven  and receiving the free gift  of eternal life.      Even people  who don’t accept Jesus  as the Savior  love to celebrate Christmas  because it’s a time for lights,  music,  and parties.      Who cares about Jesus?

It’s a most shameful  and blasphemous  blindness.      And yet,  the Almighty LORD God  is here  as our witness.      Throughout history  He has made many prophecies  about our Savior  and made them all come true  in the minutest detail,  so we can be very,  very  sure  that Jesus truly is  the Savior.      It’s all more than miraculous — but no one notices  or cares.

Regarding our Savior,  in John chapter 8  we read of a serious discussion  Jesus had  with the religious leaders.      There  Jesus pointed out a miracle  that made the religious leaders  furious — so furious  they tried to stone Jesus  to death.      In John 8:56-58,  at the end of their discussion,  Jesus told the people,

“Your father Abraham  rejoiced  to see My day;  and he saw it,  and was glad.”

The Jews  therefore  said to Him,  “You are not yet fifty years old,  and have You seen Abraham?”

Jesus said to them,  “Truly,  truly,  I say to you,  before Abraham was born,  I AM.”

Therefore  they picked up stones  to throw at Him,  but Jesus hid Himself , and went out  of the temple.

Here is Jesus  telling the people  that He is God  from all eternity.      Over 2,000 years before,  when Abraham died  and went to heaven,  he saw Jesus  and was glad.      And Jesus tells the people  He existed  long before Abraham was born,  because He is  the Self-Existent One,  the Everlasting LORD.      Totally unwilling  to look at all the evidence  in Jesus’ miracles  and fulfillment of prophecies,  their blind hatred  led them  to try to kill Jesus.

It’s not that different today.      How many actually accept Jesus  as God  come down to save us  from our sins?      If people were honestly  accepting Jesus  as LORD of lords,  King of kings,  and God of gods,  they wouldn’t be acting  the way they do.      As it is,  Christmas is celebrated  because people  of all sorts  are greedy  and love to party.      And,  they don’t want Jesus  to get in the way  of their party.

Since Christmas  is supposed to celebrate  our LORD Jesus’  coming  to earth,  we should be giving Him  a gift.      We don’t need  to go shopping  for it.      What Jesus wants  is our hearts of faith,  trust,  and thankfulness  that He truly does  wash away  all of our sins  through His suffering,  death,  and resurrection.      Our best gift to God  is to humbly  and thankfully  accept His gift  of forgiveness  for us.

Then we will truly have  something to celebrate,  and say,  “Hallelujah!      LORD,  You have made  the impossible  possible  for us — eternal life  in heaven.      Thank You!”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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