An Advent Message: "A Baby Does Change Everything" Updated

A Baby Changes Everything updated from 2015...nothing to change about this message.  That precious Baby in the Manger truly did change EVERYTHING for this old world, and for each of us, if we will pay attention to the message He brings...and claim it for our own.

Merry Christmas dear friends!

Do you remember what it felt like when you first learned you were going to have a baby?  Depending upon your circumstances, it was either great joy and elation, or it was possibly great fear and concern. If you were unmarried, not only fear, but shame, anxiety over how you would be able to take care of the child, what would your parents say...what would your boyfriend say? Would he stand by you, or run away? Would he demand you have an abortion, or force you to give the baby away? Would he love you enough to marry you and give the child a home?

Even if you were married, there were a lot of questions and concerns. Will the child be healthy? Would your husband be a good father? Will you be a good mother? Will you be able to properly provide for your child? Will it be a boy, or a girl? What shall you name him or her?

Regardless of your situation and how long you've waited for a child or whether or not you were prepared for this event at all...one thing is for certain:  "A Baby Does Change Everything!"

Now think about Mary, the mother of Jesus...single, yet betrothed to a man named Joseph. Young, pure, a virgin, and faithful to her fiance' Joseph.  Can you imagine what it must have been like for her? First of all, there was the Angel Gabriel...making such a strange announcement...and the fear and wonder over how that could even be possible.  (Luke 1;26-38).  "A baby? Me?  But I haven't even known a man that way!"  But the Angel told her "For with God nothing will be impossible..."

And then there was Joseph, a carpenter...hard working, honest, a good and noble man. And his beautiful young fiance' is pregnant...and he knows it can't be his child.  And another Angel...this time in a dream...but a very real dream  (see Matthew 1:18-25) comes to Joseph and tells him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife...because the Child she is carrying is conceived by the Holy Spirit...and His name will be called Jesus..."for He will save His people from their sins."  Can you imagine how Joseph must have felt?  Talk about shock and awe!  But what an amazing young man he was!  He did just as the angel told him, and not only took Mary to be his wife, but he did not "know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son."    He did not claim his rights as a husband until the Child was born.  And he called His name Jesus.

Yes, a baby certainly does change everything!    In this case, this Baby changed the world!  This Baby changed my life from being lost and without hope to being found and full of hope and assured of a heavenly home forever. How?  Because this Baby didn't just come to live and be a good man, a carpenter's son...but this Baby came to die.  He came to die so that we might have everlasting life. This Baby was not just any baby.  This Baby was the very Word of God:

"In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

And the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness did not comprehend it."

John 1:1-5

"And the Word became flesh

and dwelt among us,

and we beheld His glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,

full of grace and truth."

John 1:14

Yes, a baby does change everything!  Especially this Baby,  

who came to save His people from their sins.

I woke up this morning singing a song...and then when I got into my car to go to work, that very song was already playing on the radio..."A Baby Changes Everything", by Faith Hill.  So I knew I was supposed to tell you about it...click on the picture to enjoy this beautiful message in song.  I hope you know this "Baby"...and that He has already changed everything for you.  If not, I pray that before this Advent /Christmas season is over, you will come to know and love Him...like He already knows and loves you...yes, you!  Why not let Him change everything for you? That would be the very best Christmas present ever!