Scripture - Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
Observation - Probably some of the most comforting words in the whole bible. Jesus WILL save His people from their sins. What Matthew puts to pen here in the first chapter sets the stage for all of the new testament. The words of Jesus saves come ringing through every page and every chapter of the entire bible. They are the most important words - so important in fact that Jesus very name meas Yahweh is Salvation. It was not only what He was sent to do, but what He is. Jesus must not be a concept that we teach or preach - but the reason that we teach and preach. Jesus SAVES!!!
Application - It is interesting in America how you can talk about God all you want, but the minute you mention the saving power/grace of Jesus Christ you get the strangest looks. God is readily accepted because people have decided that there are many gods and many avenues to spiritual enlightenment. The truth is that there is only one way - Jesus must become the primary word rolling off our lips. We need the world to understand that God sent His son - not as A way but as THE way. Jesus saves must become the paramount message to a world desperately in need.
Prayer - Father - help me to preach Jesus, not as one of a host of topics, but as the main character in every sermon. Let your son be the center stage of all that I do and all that I say and all that I teach.
