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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Devotional: December 27th

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MORNING

The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28. That he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14.

Verily, He has taken upon Himself the form of a servant! He who was in the form of God and had the divine nature; He whom all the angels of God worshiped, whose slightest beck they stood ready to obey with lightning-like rapidity, is revealed upon earth to become the servant of man. Nor could any outward glory be seen in Him as long as He went about on earth. He was of men the most despised. Although He was the Lord of all lords, yet He went voluntarily into captivity that He might redeem the servants from their captivity. If a man who is called lord, should do this for his servants, he would be admired; and yet it would be nothing compared with what the Son of God has done for us. For He is not become the servant of His equals, but the Creator has become the servant of His creatures, yea, of fallen, faithless, sinful, and godless creatures. Take your place at the Lord’s manger and consider Him in relation to yourself.

Behold, dear soul, the God of heaven and earth lies there for you, and in your behalf, in the form of a servant, in poverty and humility, wrapped in swaddling-clothes as a feeble child. In your behalf He served as a bondman thirty-three years that He might set you free from bondage. And yet you will not surrender yourself to Him even now, after He is exalted above all things, having all power in heaven and upon earth in His hand; will you not regard it as the highest honor to serve this Lord who has been your servant so long? Consider this well.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us.

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s Strength and Consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

EVENING

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son... He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest. Luke 1:31-32. And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. John 1:14. Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh. 1 Timothy 3:16.

"For which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:11). "Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same" (Hebrews 2:14) in order to redeem them therefrom. His love compelled Him, so that He was willing to have all things in common with us, sin excepted. This is a mystery which can never be too much admired and adored, "The Word was made flesh," a passage before which the Fathers bowed their knees as often as they quoted it. If you will not do that, let your heart at least bow down. We should never have come to God if God had not first come to us. We were too deeply sunk in depravity. God had to step down from His glory; no other hand could reach so far down; no power, no love was great enough to help us up. But now our joy is unspeakable, and this thought, God is become man, God is made flesh, should elevate us above other things, and make our souls perfectly happy. Nevertheless, Christ for us, made manifest in the flesh, can not be to us what He should be, and would be; He must be made manifest in our flesh, that is to say, in us. He has also promised this to all (John 14:21-23). Concerning this the apostle Paul also speaks, as concerning a fact well known among Christians, "But when it pleased God to reveal His Son in me" (Galatians 1:15-16). However little people nowadays like to hear this truth, it is nevertheless indispensable. No one can be acceptable to God unless he is revealed in Christ, and Christ in him.

This is the Christ, our God and Lord,

Who in all need shall aid afford;

He will Himself our Savior be,

From all our sins to set us free.

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