December 22nd

The Christmas War

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars...And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads...And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. Revelation 12:1,3-4

Pop Christmastime quiz, for you-ready? Why was Jesus born?

Be careful in how you answer, because I'll warn you that I'm setting you up. I imagine that most of you answered, Oh, well, Jesus was born to die. He had to be born so that He could take our sins on the cross and die in our place; He's the only one who could do that. If that's what you answered then I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you are 100 percent correct. The bad news is that you didn't finish the story, so you still got the answer wrong. Sorry.

Jesus did come to die, and He did that as only He could do. But ultimately, in the big picture of Christmas and why this Child was born, it was so that He would rule and reign forever and ever.

Now, it wasn't easy for Jesus to be born in the first place. The devil has been working and trying, from the very beginning, to devour Him and His people before He had a chance to come. Then, even after He was born, the dragon worked all Jesus' life to derail and destroy Him, finally killing Him on the cross.

Satan thought he had won this war when Jesus died on the cross, but three days later, Jesus rose again from the dead. That had to have been the devil's worst day! This child has become the conqueror of our enemy and foe, Satan, and He will reign forever!

I pray and hope that this war has been won for you, that there isn't a war going on in your heart or soul or mind. I pray that you have experienced this victory in the name of Jesus Christ for yourself up close and personal. I pray that Satan, who is cast down and cast out from Heaven, has also been cast out of your life once and for all, that he would be rebuked in the name of Jesus Christ.

And that's really what this Christmas War is all about, because we are the battlefield. Who is going to rule at the end of the day? Is Jesus going to rule your life, or is the devil?

For those who will choose Him, the victory has already been given to us through Christ Jesus, the everlasting Lord of all.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You that You were born to rule! I am so glad that You rule over my life today and every day. I give my life to You now and ask that You would be my King, winning this war now and forevermore!

Amen