And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
Tony and Samantha are a couple who live in Parkside, England.
They are, according to all who know them, a happy couple. They are also a couple who were going to have a baby.
The plans had all been made for their little girl's entry into the world.
Mom and dad knew their little girl was going to be born at the hospital in Poole, England. The parents knew the route they were going to take to get to the hospital. They had everything, including the name of their little girl. They were going to call her Tilly. That's a nice English name: Tilly.
Yes, they had everything figured out -- everything, that is, except for how quickly Tilly would arrive.
In truth, Tilly arrived in this world before Tony and Samantha arrived at the hospital.
Maybe I should say Tilly arrived in Tony and Samantha's vehicle, a seven-seat Korean-made Kia.
Gazing at little Tilly, Tony and Samantha concluded their little girl didn't look like a Tilly. Throwing out the name Tilly they decided on a new name. Tilly would be called . . . you guessed it, Kia.
It could have been worse. Tony and Samantha could have been driving a Toyota4Runner, or an Avalanche, or a Beetle, a Boxter, a Crown Victoria, a Diablo, a Gremlin, a Range Rover or even a Viper.
It would have been hard for that little girl to grow up with a name like Diablo or Viper.
Yes, those names would have been hard, but they would have been nothing compared to living up to the name of Jesus. That name which means "Savior" and "Jehovah is Salvation" is unique. It is so unique only one man in the world's history has ever been able to carry it perfectly.
You know, of course, who that person is.
Especially during this Advent season, we remember Jesus, the Savior, the sinless Son of God who, according to prophecy and promise, came into this world as one of us to give His life as a ransom for all of us. It is appropriate in remembering Him we repent of all we have done wrong and give thanks for all -- for everything -- Jesus has done right.
THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus. I am a sinner and I am heartily sorry for those sins. With a contrite heart, I repent of that which I have done wrong and pray that I may, as Your redeemed servant, be worthy of the name "Christian." In Your Name, I pray it. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Ezekiel 37-39 2 Peter 2
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