As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
Read Part 2.
The Messiah was a descendant of Abraham.
More than that, we considered last time how He was, in fact, promised within the covenant that God made with Abram (Gen. 12:1-3). According to the Apostle Paul in Gal. 3:16 and 19, He is the ultimate recipient of that covenant!
“The New England Puritans were strong opponents of Christmas, not only because of its connections with Roman Catholicism but also because, in 17th-century England, it had become a day known more for excessive drinking and gaming than for any religious observance.” - CToday
“Families have many traditions on Christmas morning, and most pastors acknowledge not as many of their members will be present compared to Christmas Eve and services earlier in the month” - BPNews
“Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! …there was no misprint.” - Dan Wells
“Since we forfeited the garden, humans have been pierced with a home-longing. We leave home looking to find home. Yet it always seems to elude us. It’s never the same if we go back.” - Desiring God
“None of the songs I have included today on my least-favorite list are actually Christian Christmas songs at all; but they all commonly get included on Christmas playlists.” - Kindle Afresh
“Christmas — over any other season — tends to make life’s sweet things sweeter and hard things harder.” - Desiring God
Last time, we saw how the very first promise of the Messiah proclaimed Him to be the “Seed” of the woman (Gen. 3:15). But before we can go any further into understanding the characteristics of this coming Savior, we certainly must realize that He was also to be the “Seed” of “Abraham” (Gal. 3:16).
“December 6 [was] the anniversary of the death of St. Nicholas in 343, a leader in the ancient Church in the city of Myra in Asia Minor, or modern-day Turkey.” - Breakpoint
It was certainly one of the most momentous days in the history of the Earth.
It began like every day before it had—every day they had known since “the beginning” (Gen. 1:1). It began in holiness—in perfection.
But, soon enough, they faced something they had not encountered before—something for which they did not even have a category. We know it as temptation.
Discussion