“For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

I love a good story.

It’s true – I can be so enthralled by a good book or movie that, as my family says, ‘a bomb could go off beside me and it wouldn’t faze me’.

Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but I have to admit it – if a story has all the right elements: love, suspense, trials and triumph, I can spend hours “hypnotized” by it. Therefore, it’s no wonder that the story of Jesus’ birth has captured my heart since long before I knew Him as my Lord and Savior. The long-awaited Messiah, the mystery of His birth, a terrible enemy persecuting the helpless infant, the triumph of Heaven proclaimed by the angels as the Baby was born.

It’s a beautiful story, indeed. And we hear it so many times during the holiday season. It’s a time when we, His people, rejoice as we read and repeat the story.

But it’s also a time when those who hate Him intensify their persecution.

Every year, they vow to erase Him from public places. They shake their fists at the mention of Christmas. They sneer at the manger and close their ears to the Truth that came to set them free. The Baby infuriates them. So much so that they don’t just choose to ignore Him in their lives. They want US, His people, to turn our faces away from the Miracle. They take us to the courts and fight to stop us from proclaiming His birth.

And they THINK they win.

Year after year, Happy Holidays overcomes Merry Christmas in the malls, schools and public places. And we, His people, caught up in the busyness, unintentionally join the throng, filling our December days with ‘things’ and often forgetting the Gift.

Baby Jesus is persecuted, not because we believe He is “special.” It’s because we believe He is Savior. The ONLY Savior.

No wonder Christmas is under attack. Demons indeed hate His birth! They fight to stop us from proclaiming Satan’s doom, sealed as the Baby in the manger cried, a foreshadow of the redemption He would bring forth when He breathed His last.

[bctt tweet=”Demons fight to stop us from proclaiming Satan’s doom, sealed as the Baby in the manger cried, a foreshadow of the redemption He would bring forth when He breathed His last.” username=”PatHolbrook”]

He is persecuted because choosing Him is choosing to die to self. It’s choosing to die to sin, self-indulgence and self-will. It’s picking up a cross to follow Him. Not a popular concept, indeed.

But choosing Him is also finding Life. Because those of us who answered the call know it too well: Jesus is the only Way to TRUE Life.

[bctt tweet=”Choosing Jesus is finding Life. Because those of us who answered the call know it too well: Jesus is the only Way to TRUE Life.” username=”PatHolbrook”]

That Redemption would come down in the form of a Baby?

That’s undoubtedly the Greatest Story ever told.

That God would shrink His glory to dwell among us and make us His own?

That’s the most glorious event in the history of mankind.

It’s a Truth too great for our limited minds to grasp… and yet, Truth indeed.

Not story, but history.

Our history.

Because for those of us who know the Baby in the manger as our resurrected Lord, we can testify: He changed our history.

The world may shout as loud as it will: “It’s a fairy tale! A story for the weak!”

Our hearts, however, flooded with a Love that dwells within, shouts back:“It’s TRUTH! I’ve seen it. I’ve felt it. I KNOW!”

Oh, what a blessed assurance, that men and women through the ages have died to protect! That JESUS is Lord! That eternity is ours! That the Greatest Gift was freely given… to save a wretch like me.

[bctt tweet=”Oh, what a blessed assurance, that men and women through the ages have died to protect! That JESUS is Lord! That eternity is ours! That the Greatest Gift was freely given… to save a wretch like me.” username=”PatHolbrook”]

To tell the story of the birth is a piece of cake. Everyone does it.

But to proclaim that the Baby is Lord of lords and the King of the Universe who will return only for those who surrendered their lives to Him?

That’s a dare. A Christmas dare.

Will you do it?

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[bctt tweet=”LINKUP is open! In the age of political correctness, sharing about a little Baby born in a manger is not a big deal. Everyone does it. But sharing that He is the only way to eternal life with our Maker? That’s a Christmas dare. Join us?” username=”PatHolbrook”]