What to do on Christmas?

           <ESPAÑOL>

December 25th

What to do on Christmas?

Rejoice!

By Riqui Ricón*

Then all your people will be righteous and will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor (Isaiah 60:21, NIV).

God's perfect and loving plan for your life has always included making you righteous through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ, who has ALREADY PAID for all your sins. We call this the Plan of Redemption, and it has the express purpose of making you His own—His shoot, His own child—and giving you the earth as an inheritance FOREVER.

That is why on this day, Christmas Day, the angel announced:

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord (Luke 2:10-11, NIV).

And the angels proclaimed:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14, NIV).

The News is so Good, so Great, so Beautiful, and so Powerful that fear must be cast out of the lives of men by the life of another man, Jesus Christ, the Savior Messiah.

The Gospel! Good News! Glory will be given to God in the highest, for Peace and God's Goodwill toward ALL of us have arrived on earth.

Rejoice! You have a Savior. He came and already paid for all your sins, making you righteous. By dying in your place, He justified you before God to give you access to Eternal Life. A life with purpose, an abundant and full life that only Born Again Children of God can experience.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins… But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:1, 4-7, KJV).

Ah! The Love of God! This great love with which He loved you has a name; His name is Jesus, and He is Lord.

Now you and I are alive for Him, to lead full and victorious lives. Never again give place to fear and anguish, which produce doubt and unbelief; do not give them any room at all. Instead, let—allow—that great Love with which He loves you to fill your life with His Fullness.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17, KJV).

Do you realize that God loves you so much that He preferred to give up His own Son rather than lose you?

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1, NIV).

On this special day, know once and for all that you are a beloved Child of God! Born Again! And not of corruptible seed, but of the incorruptible seed which is the Word of God, which lives and abides forever!

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God (1 Peter 1:23, NIV).

Rejoice! God spoke it, and He Himself has already done it!

And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord (Ezekiel 37:14, KJV).

God said it, and He Himself has already executed it!

In the face of such wonder, what more can be said? If God is for us, who can be against us? Since He did not hesitate to give up His Son for us, won't He also

give us all things? Who dares to accuse us if we are God’s chosen ones? No one! God Himself has forgiven us and holds us in high esteem before Him. Who will condemn us then? Christ? No! He was the one who died for us and came back to life for us and is in heaven in a place of honor alongside God the Father interceding for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? If problems or calamities come our way, if we are persecuted or killed, is it because He has stopped loving us? And if we are hungry or in need, or if we are in danger, threatened with death, is it because God has abandoned us? No, the Scriptures say that we must be willing to die at any moment for the cause of Christ, that we are like sheep for the slaughter, but despite everything, our victory is absolute, thanks to Christ who loved us unto death. I am convinced that nothing can separate us from His love. Not death, nor life, nor fears of the present, nor our worry about the future, nor the place where we are (whether the highest or the deepest), nor angels, nor the powers of hell itself, Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ by dying for us! (Romans 8:31-39, NIV).

Let’s pray out loud:

Beloved Lord Jesus, on this day, very especially, I want You to know how much I love You and how grateful I am for what You have done for me and in me. You are my rock and my Savior; You are the owner of my heart; Alpha and Omega, beginning and end; You are the light of my life, my strength, my high refuge, wonderful, counselor, mighty God, and prince of peace. Jesus, You are Lord! I expressly accept, once again, what You did for me on the cross, Your sacrifice of Love, Your precious Blood shed to the last drop out of Love for me. Thank You, thank You very much, Lord! Because of You, I,                                  (your name here), am now a Child of the Living and True God and have been Born Again to enjoy Eternal Life—the Full and Abundant Life to which only we, the Children

of the King, have a right through Your Blood. Therefore, I determine, with all Your help, Holy Spirit, to honor the Blood of Jesus and live the Full and Abundant Life that was purchased for me. Heavenly Father, I have peace and the guarantee in Your Word, the Bible, and although I know that in the world I will have tribulations, I can believe and trust in You, for from all of them I will come out more than a conqueror, for I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I will no longer give any place to feelings of sadness, melancholy, failure, or defeat. I am not alone, nor am I a failure! Whether it be sickness, poverty, or affliction, I belong to God and I have overcome them, for greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world! I determine to be happy because I trust in You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

 

 

Important Note:

How do I become a Child of God? How do I establish a relationship with the Almighty?

Just say the following prayer aloud, putting all your attention and heart into what you are saying to God:

 

Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God. That You came into this world, born of the virgin Mary, to pay for all my sins, and I have been a sinner. Therefore, today I say that I accept. I accept Your sacrifice on the cross! I accept Your precious Blood shed to the last drop out of love for me! I open my heart to You and invite You in because I want, Lord Jesus, that from today and forever You be my only and sufficient Savior, my God, my King, and my Lord.

Thank You, Almighty God, because with this simple prayer and profession of faith I have passed from death to Life, I have been transferred from darkness to Your marvelous Light. Today I have been Born Again! God, now I am Your Child! Now You are my Father! I will never be alone again! I will never live defeated again. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Three Recommendations:

What just happened by you recognizing Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life, according to God's Word, is that you have been Born Again. No longer as an ordinary human being, subject to the law of sin and death, but now as a

legitimate and authentic Child of God, Born Again, exactly like Jesus Christ, who is now your Older Brother. Therefore, I give you these three, very important, recommendations:

1.    Pray. Praying is talking with God. So, find a quiet place where you can begin talking to Him about everything. Do it out loud, and you will notice how God always responds to your heart.

 

2.    Read and meditate on the Word of God. The Bible is the Word of God, so get a Bible and start reading and meditating on it. How do you begin? It’s very simple. Depending on the day, look up the reading program “The

Bible in One Year” and do the corresponding readings. You can get this program at: Through The Bible In One Year (palabradehonor.org). You will notice that the program is set up so you can print it as a booklet.

 

3.    In prayer with God, your Father, look for and join a Christian church or congregation where the Word of God is taught based on the Good News, which are the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Ricardo C. Peredo Jaime © 2020

Reading and Meditation on the Word of God

Do these daily readings, and by the end of one year you will have read the entire Bible.

December 25    Luke 2.1-20 / Ezekiel 37 / Isaiah 60 Luke

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 

 

Ezekiel

 

37 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,

2  And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.

3  And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.

4  Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

5  Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

6  And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

7  So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

8  And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.

9  Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

10  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

11  Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

12  Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

13  And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,

14  And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

15  The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,

16  Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions:

17  And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.

18  And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?

19  Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.

20  And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.

21  And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:

22  And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.

23  Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.

24  And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

25  And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.

26  Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.

27  My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

28  And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

 

 

Isaiah

 

60 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

2  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

3  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

4  Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

5  Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

6  The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.

7  All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

8  Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

9  Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.

10  And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.

11  Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.

12  For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

13  The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.

14  The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee; The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15  Whereas thou has been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.

16  Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

17  For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.

18  Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

19  The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

20  Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

21  Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

22  A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.