Christmas and Blessing
Luke 1:39-45 (TLB) A few days later Mary hurried to the highlands of Judea to the town where Zacharias lived, to visit Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 She gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “You are favoured by God above all other women, and your child is destined for God’s mightiest praise. 43 What an honour this is, that the mother of my Lord should visit me! 44 When you came in and greeted me, the instant I heard your voice, my baby moved in me for joy! 45 You believed that God would do what he said; that is why he has given you this wonderful blessing.”
The curse that was on this world because of Adam and Eve has been reversed! Jesus’ entry into the world releases blessing on all who believe. He is the ultimate fulfilment of our search for happiness.
The NKJV in Luke 1:45 says “ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
Acts 3:26 (NKJV) “To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
Jesus coming to this world is the most powerful blessing that we could ever receive. Christmas is a time of giving presents. We are blessing our loved ones with gifts. During this time of giving, we should never forget, that the most power blessing that anyone can receive is the accepting of Jesus. There is no greater blessing in this world than accepting Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV) “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
God wants to bless us.
Numbers 6:24-27 (TLC) “May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favour, and give you his peace.’ 27 This is how Aaron and his sons shall call down my blessings upon the people of Israel; and I myself will personally bless them.”
John 20:29 (MSG) “Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
Galatians 3:13-14 (MSG) “Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham’s blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive God’s life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing—just the way Abraham received it.”
I conclude with Ephesians 1:3 (NLT) “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.”