God’s People, Saved by Hearing the Word [Christmas]

Luke set down for Theophilus a careful account of how the gospel passed through Jerusalem and went on to reach Rome. Though Theophilus had never seen Jesus with his own eyes, the word passed on to him was enough: he believed as though he could see the invisible God, and he received the hope of heaven.

As Israel stood on the edge of Canaan, Moses earnestly pleaded with them to keep the statutes and ordinances, for that was the way to life. God showed them no form, because he knew the people would turn any form into an idol. Yet Christians too measure God by the standards of the world, fashioning images of their own and serving them.

Some nine hundred years before Jesus came, David heard in advance, by the Holy Spirit, of Christ’s death and resurrection, and he held fast to that hope and lived it out even in the midst of suffering. Jesus came as the prophecy foretold and fulfilled that promise. We have seen this and know it, so we must proclaim the gospel more boldly than David did, and live with thankfulness and perseverance.