[Sndbox] The Family Christmas Tree.doc

[Charles]

Title: The Family Christmas Tree

The Family Christmas Tree Matthew 1:1-6,16 & Galatians 4:3-5 Christmas is quickly coming our way as lights and trees are going up to remind us of its presence.  Have you put up your "Family Christmas Tree?" Some will be decorated in simplicity, while others are decorated in the extravagant.  They are all beautiful in their own setting. I noticed a family picking out their Christmas tree at Wal-Mart.  The expressions on the kids faces told of the excitement of putting up the Family Christmas tree! Putting up the Christmas tree is always anticipated in your house when you have children in the family.  Children have such a love for Christmas, and can’t wait to put the decorations on the tree. An old legend states that Boniface, an English missionary in Germany around the 8th century was walking through the woods on Christmas eve when he found a small child tied to an oak tree who was about to be sacrificed to the god Odin.  Boniface released the child and ordered the oak tree be cut down.  Upon clearing the oak a tiny fir tree was found behind the stump -- the fir was named "Tree of the Christ Child" and thus became a symbol of the Christian faith. How beautiful decorated that tree must have been!  In the scriptures we find God's Family Christmas tree and though its not decorated as we might have it be it is indeed the most beautiful "Family Christmas Tree" eyes have ever seen and heart have ever experienced.  We find the tree described in Matthew 1:1-6 and verse 16. Matthew 1:1-6  The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: 2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Matthew 1:16  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. God in love has decorated the Family Christmas Tree with righteousness, faith, grace, and forgiveness. 1. The Silver Ornament of Righteousness . . . Tamar Matthew 1:3 a "Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar" Tamar . . . her story is found in Genesis 38.  She married Er, the son of Judah but he was judged of God for his wickedness and died.  She then by Leviratic marriage (the next of kin) became the wife of Onan.  He refused to have children through Tamar because they would not be his heir, but Er's.  God judged him and he died.  Judah tells Tamar to remain a widow till another son is ready for marriage.  She goes to live in her father's household and in the meantime Judah's wife dies.  He goes to Timnah to sheer his sheep and Tamar goes in disguise as a harlot (prostitute) and has relations with Judah and conceives and gives birth to twin boys . . . Perez and Zerah.  Judah in discovering that Tamar is with child and has played the harlot he calls for her to burned.  But Tamar then shows by proof of a the items Judah had given to the harlot he slept with declares that Tamar has acted more righteous than he (Gen 38:26). At first thought we might think God ought to be a little better judge of the people He places in the family Christmas tree.  But the story shows us  How sin leads us away from God's intentions for our lives. How we as humans will go to extremes of sinfulness to get our ways. How man is quick to judge and condemn. How man's righteousness is worthless and leaves us sinners. - Isaiah 64:5-6 … our righteousness is filthy rags and in need of being saved - 2 Corinthians 5:21 … Christ b/c sin that we might become the rightousness of God - Galatians 3:6-7 … only those who are of faith are the sons of righteousness God in love placed upon the family Christmas tree a Silver ornament of Righteousness that through Jesus Christ we might become righteous before Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2. The Gold Ornament of Faith . . . Rahab Matthew 1:5a  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Rahab's story is found in the book of Joshua.  She was a harlot who lived in the city of Jericho.  Joshua & Co. were advancing with the Lord's help.  Joshua sent spies into the land and into Jericho.  There in the city they were spotted and in looking for cover they were taken in by Rahab and protected.  In return she asked that she and her family be spared.  Rahab though sinful in life style had come to a "crisis of faith" … one in which he had to choose to go with the One true God or remain with her gods.  He chose by faith to believe in the One true God Jehovah. Joshua 2:11  "And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. A oath was made and the sign of a scarlet chord was to be placed in the window.  And when Joshua & Co. made conquest of Jericho Rahab and family were spared and saved because of her faith. The story is reminder to all of us that "faith is the victory!"  Faith is not reserved for the good and morally upright. Faith is needed by all if we have any hope of being spared the judgment coming. Faith moves us into a belief that takes action. - Matthew 9:22 … faith has made you well - Luke 8:25 … where is your faith? - 2 Thessalonians 1:3 … faith grows exceedingly along side love - 1 Peter 1:7 … testing of your faith - more precious than gold refined God in love has placed upon the family Christmas tree a Gold ornament of Faith that you and I might believe and be saved. Ephesians 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 3. The Red Ornament of Grace . . . Ruth Matthew 1:5 Boaz begot Obed by Ruth Ruth's story is found in the Old Testament book bearing her name.  It is written in the days of the Judges that is characterized by "and everyone did what was right in his own eyes."  It is a story of God's amazing grace.  Ruth was a Moabite.  During the days of the wilderness wandering they children of Israel were not allowed to cross through Moab and they hired Balaam to curse them (Deut 24).  God declared that a Moabite could not enter into the assembly of the Lord through the 10th generation.  Ruth was married Chilion a Hebrew who had died in the land of Moab.  In a beautiful setting of God's redeeming love we see how gracious our God is.  Ruth being a Moabite was latter married to Boaz a Hebrew and blessed with a child named Obed. Ruth 4:13-14  So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! Obed grew up to have a son named Jesse, who himself had a son named David.  And from there the lineage continues to Christ. The story reminds us . . . We are all in need of God's grace. No one is beyond the out stretched reach of God's grace. - Luke 2:40 … grace of God upon the Christ Child - Titus 2:11 … grace of God brings salvation - Ephesians 2:8-9 … saved by grace - Ephesians 3:7 … minister of the grace of God - Revelation 22:21 … grace be with you all Revelation 22:21  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. God in love has placed upon the family Christmas tree a Red ornament of Grace that we might be covered in this amazing grace through the blood of Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1-2  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 4. The White Ornament of Forgiveness . . . Bathsheba Matthew 1:6 David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Bathsheba's story is found in 2 Samuel.  She was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, who committed adultery with David, King of Israel.  She is now with child and David commits murder has he has Uriah killed.  David then takes Bathsheba to be his wife and a son is born who dies.  After realizing the sin that has been committed David looks to God for forgiveness (Psalm 51) … and they are forgiven.  Forgiveness is a great thing . . . for it allows men and women to go on with their lives.  Bathsheba gives birth to another son named Solomon who would perpetuate the lineage of David to Jesus Christ. The story reminds us . . . Forgiveness is to be sought as well as given. Forgiveness allows us to go on with our lives. Forgiveness is a true sign of God working in our lives. - Ephesians 1:7 … forgiveness of sin through grace - Colossians 1:13-14 … delivered from darkness through forgiveness of sin - Colossians 2:13 … alive through the forgiveness of trespasses - Ephesians 4:32 … forgiving as Christ forgave us God in love has placed upon the family Christmas tree a White ornament of Forgiveness that we might be forgiven of our sins and live life as He has deemed best. Isaiah 1:18  "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. Conclusion:                                                                                    At first glance someone might think this is a pretty poorly decorated family Christmas tree with all the lineage that comes with it.  Why one might think that God would have displayed a little better lineage for the likes of you and I.  I mean after all look how good we are, or so we think.  We would never think of being and doing the things like Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba, after all we are better than that!  But perhaps we ought look again at this family Christmas tree and then take a look at our own lives. Galatians 4:3-5  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. You see . . . God decorated His Family Christmas Tree that it might include everyone of us.  And the blessed thought is … we who are too proud to acknowledge our sin … God always stand ready to receive us.  Why?  Because upon the Family Christmas Tree God has placed the ornaments of His Righteousness, Faith, Grace and Forgiveness that are offered to all through His Son Jesus Christ . . . the Reason for the Season of Christmas!

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