The Power of God
Today’s Text: Select Scriptures
RECLAIMING CHRISTMAS

Christmas is generally considered a family centered, fun filled, heart-warming season of good will. More importantly, however, Christmas should be a reminder of God’s power at work in the affairs of men.

The following passages reveal that God is all-powerful:

ISAIAH 53:1
Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm [power] of the Lord been revealed?

GENESIS 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

LUKE 1:30-37
“Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’

Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?‘

And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.’”

At the beginning of the Messianic 53^rd chapter of Isaiah, the prophet asks, “to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

In the Hebrew Scriptures, “arm” is often a figure of speech denoting strength, power or determined action. The phrase “arm of the Lord” describes God’s power to bring redemption to the world through the Messiah as described in the remainder of the chapter.

Envision a body builder flexing his forearm while slowly pumping his bulging bicep and you see the word picture Isaiah employed!

Recognizing the power of God in the account of the Nativity is essential to reclaiming Christmas. As we celebrate this season, let’s redirect our focus to the power of God—the mighty arm of the Lord—that made the miracle of Christmas a reality. When we grasp the facts surrounding Jesus’ birth, God’s power to do the impossible jumps-off the pages of Scripture.

Rev. Charles E. McCracken. Biblically Authentic – Standing with Israel.

Charles E. McCracken is an international Bible teacher, long-time friend of Israel and advocate for the Jewish people. Rev. McCracken is known for authenticity in communicating biblical truth that makes his presentations relevant for those seeking to understand the significance of Israel and the church in Bible prophecy. He staunchly supports the nation of Israel and the Jewish people’s right to exist and live in peace.

© Charles E. McCracken 2017, devotional comments only. Repost/Reprint with permission from the author via Contact Form under ABOUT. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Emphasis added.)

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