{"id":1222,"date":"2022-12-22T17:09:16","date_gmt":"2022-12-22T17:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/drkevinbaird.com\/wp\/?p=1222"},"modified":"2022-12-22T17:09:16","modified_gmt":"2022-12-22T17:09:16","slug":"merry-christmas-from-the-baird-house-to-yours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/drkevinbaird.com\/wp\/2022\/12\/22\/merry-christmas-from-the-baird-house-to-yours\/","title":{"rendered":"Merry Christmas from the Baird house to yours\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Merry Christmas from the Baird house to yours\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

True story\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a pastor, I would always arrive at the church early on Sunday to turn on the lights and prepare for worship service. At the time, we were worshiping in a renovated mall, which had a few, easily missed holes in the walls leading to the outside. One Sunday, upon arrival, I found that a small bird had somehow found its way into the building and was flying desperately to find a way out. Anytime I would get close to potentially drive the bird out the open double doors, the bird would panic and fly away further into the building. My attempts to \u201csave\u201d the bird were futile and creating more trauma to the animal, despite my good intentions. As a human being there was no way I could communicate with this bird to tell it I could save it from harm. If only there was a way, I might transform myself into a bird to save it. That would indeed be \u201cgood news\u201d<\/strong> for that bird.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Christmas is the celebration of the arrival of Immanuel<\/strong>, \u201cGod with us\u201d (Matthew 1:23). The word, incarnation, is actually the concept of God becoming man. The fancy, theological term is hypostatic union. This is who we call the Messiah. We know this person as Jesus Christ. Despite being 100% divine, He became 100% human, as one of us, in order that we might be saved eternally and become a part of God\u2019s family. That is why the Gospel is called, \u201cGood News\u201d<\/strong>. Much like the bird trapped by its own waywardness blind to the path out, so we too are trapped by our own sins, blind to the path God provided. God became man to share with us the way of salvation. It comes by no other way than through Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

As human beings, we were dead in our trespass and sin. Incapable and unable to save ourselves. There was no pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps or simply turning over a new leaf. We needed empowerment and assistance from another realm. Jesus arrived full of \u201cgrace and truth\u201d. He reminded us of the standard of God which was revealed through His Law. We were confronted by His righteousness and holiness, and He revealed us lacking. There was no answer except full surrender through His grace and the receiving of His forgiveness and righteousness through His substituting atonement.<\/p>\n

This is why we sing:<\/p>\n

Hark! The herald angels sing<\/strong><\/em>
\n“Glory to the new-born king<\/strong><\/em>
\nPeace on earth and mercy mild<\/strong><\/em>
\nGod and sinners reconciled”<\/strong><\/em>
\nJoyful all ye nations rise<\/strong><\/em>
\nJoin the triumph of the skies<\/strong><\/em>
\nWith angelic host proclaim<\/strong><\/em>
\n“Christ is born in Bethlehem”<\/strong><\/em>
\nHark! The herald angels sing<\/strong><\/em>
\n“Glory to the new-born king”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!<\/strong><\/em>
\nHail the Sun of Righteousness!<\/strong><\/em>
\nLight and life to all He brings<\/strong><\/em>
\nRisen with healing in His wings<\/strong><\/em>
\nMild He lays His glory by<\/strong><\/em>
\nBorn that man no more may die<\/strong><\/em>
\nBorn to raise the sons of earth<\/strong><\/em>
\nBorn to give them second birth<\/strong><\/em>
\nHark! The herald angels sing<\/strong><\/em>
\n“Glory to the new-born king”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Please receive our best wishes for a joyous, Christmas celebration and remember that God loves you very much to have provided such an amazing Savior.<\/p>\n

\n

(PS. I was able to help get the bird out of the building before Sunday services. Ask me and I would love to tell you the end of the story.)<\/p>\n

\n

Merry Christmas!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Merry Christmas from the Baird house to yours\u2026 True story\u2026 As a pastor, I would always arrive at the church early on Sunday to turn on the lights and prepare for worship service. At the time, we were worshiping in a renovated mall, which had a few, easily missed holes in the walls leading to…<\/span><\/p>\n

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