But whilst thinking about this plan an angel suddenly appeared to him and told him not to be fearful about marrying Mary, because her baby was conceived by the Holy Ghost. It was to be a boy and they were to call His name, JESUS, because He would save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:18-21).
This miracle baby, this Jesus is the Son of God.
He came to live a perfect human life on behalf of His people and then die in their place to bear the punishment of their sins from God so that they might be forgiven and given eternal life.
We particularly remember at Easter, the time of His death. He didn't stay in the grave, but came back to life and after mingling with His disciples and other loved ones He ascended into heaven where He is today.
Do you know Jesus as your Saviour?
I pray that you do, and if not, I pray that as you read these words you will feel a heart hunger to know Him and will start searching for Him.
Today I want to share with you a recent experience, which reminded me of how precious Jesus is, as our Saviour and our Friend.
We might think that I shouldn't need reminding. But it is a little like having a best friend or a loved relative - we know that we love them and that they love us, but every now and then we are particularly grateful for their love and friendship. We are reminded how special they are, because of some caring thing that they do, or the support they are to us, or because of how they particularly show their love.
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An old tormenting suggestion - that I would do something dreadful in my sleep - had come back.
The first time it occurred some years ago we were on holiday in a caravan park. The suggestion was so shocking and terrible that I lay awake with my heart racing, the darkness of the night seeming to press in on me, the unfamiliarity of my surroundings seeming to add to it. I cried to the Lord in the awfulness of it and tossed and turned on the thin mattress for the rest of the night, too scared to go to sleep.
Thankfully, after a couple of nights the memory faded, but this night, four years later, it suddenly came back.
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The sense of a verse came to my mind, 'whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things' (Philippians 4:8).
'Jesus', I thought. 'Lovely Jesus - the very opposite to evil and darkness,' and then the name 'Saviour' breathed into my troubled, fearful mind.
'Saviour' I silently repeated, and then tried to think, my thoughts mixed up with prayer:
'What does Saviour really mean?...not only to save me from my sins' deserved reward, but save me now from these awful thoughts, save me from myself, save me from Satan's suggestions, help me to fully trust that the Lord will keep me from doing anything when I am asleep and not in control of my body, help me to fully trust that God is greater than Satan.'
I remembered the time when broken hearted I had literally felt as if I was falling into a deep bottomless pit, but on crying to the Lord to help me He had saved me then, calling my heart to His and giving me amazing peace and happiness. It was almost as physical as the Lord reaching out His hand to save Peter, his drowning disciple.
Peter 'walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him...' (Matthew 14:30,31).
I recalled how quickly the Lord had saved me when I had cried so earnestly for His help and how immediately He had reached out His hand to save Peter.
And at some point as I thought on these things I fell asleep.
*****
It is as times like these that we realise nobody else can help us.
Yes - I could have woken my husband for his reassurance, I could have messaged a friend, I could have got up and distracted myself, I could have tried to reassure myself of the low statistical chances of suddenly sleep walking, let alone doing anything else, if it became a recurrent problem I could have sought medical help and requested a sedative to dull the terror and help me sleep, but right then, at that moment I was alone, tormented and feeling helpless.
Dear reader, who do you turn to when you have times like these?
A good friend is indeed a real blessing at these times, but Jesus, the Son of God is the best friend.
Jesus knew my thoughts and terror. Jesus knew the devil was making this awful suggestion that was so abhorrent to me. Jesus is greater than Satan. Jesus could send him away and give me sleep. Jesus could comfort me and give me peace greater than any human could give me.
Dear reader, that night I was kept from the devil's suggestive accusation, and the Lord has kept him away since, sleep and safety from my own actions being granted. Jesus saved me from Satan and myself.
What a comfort to know that God never sleeps. When we are fast asleep and totally unaware of our very life, He is continually watching over the precious souls of His children - those people He gave up His own life for. 'He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep...he shall preserve thy soul', Psalm 121.
Are you tempted by various thoughts or anxieties - things which you shrink from, things which are abhorrent to you, or things which worry and scare you - maybe thoughts of the future, other people, possible events, or thoughts of death and eternity?
Are they things which seem too great for you to deal with? Things which you feel helpless and powerless to save yourself from? Maybe things which you could never tell other people about?
He can save us from those things which render us powerless and helpless to save ourselves. He is a place of Refuge for our souls from spiritual danger and harm, and can likewise shield us from physical and emotional harm if it is His will.
Jesus is so completely all we can need for help.
In another Bible verse we read of some of His other names, 'and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace' (Isaiah 9:6).
Jesus is all you can possibly need for every single thing. We can tell Him anything and everything. He is the best friend we will ever have. He will never let us down. He loves His children so much that He left heaven, to come and live as a poor homeless man who was rejected, scorned, jeered at and murdered.
Dear reader, if you are in any trouble today, or if you are conscious that you are a sinner and need to be made right before God, come to this great Jesus in prayer. Tell Him all your heart, give Him all your worries and concerns, and ask for that faith to trust in who He is, His mission when He came to this earth, His great power - ask Him to tell you He is your Saviour if you do not yet know this.
May this Christmas time be an especially special time to you, the Lord Jesus giving you that faith to believe in Him as your Saviour, from your sins, from all the evil and temptations of the world, and from Satan and his angels.
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