Joanne B. Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Master of Science degree in Psychology/Christian Counseling with honors from Liberty University. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on the history of development of the Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.
I love the celebration of the birth of our Savior. It is like a new beginning, a new hope. I love the anticipation that floats through the air like a fluttering of snowflakes.
I grew up in a gentler, more innocent time. Christmas was an exciting time of year for the whole family. Shop windows were filled with snowy scenes of families and Christmas.
Sheep are mentioned and repeat more than any other animal in the Bible. There are many comparisons between the ways of sheep and the ways of human beings. Not only did they provide food to eat, they also provided wool for cloths. Jesus is called the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep. His sheep know his voice and obeys Him. Jesus is also called the Lamb of God. The New Testament church is compared to a sheepfold.
Jesus told many parables and this is one that all our churches need to remember. It teaches us that we should seek or go after the lost. If heaven should rejoice over a lost person that is found so should we.
It is important to know the sons of Jacob because they eventually become the tribes of Israel. Jesus was born out of the tribe of Judah. The story of the sons of Jacob helps to express examples of the LORD God’s love, mercy, and care for His family. I am so thankful we belong to the family of the LORD God.
John, the beloved disciple, is an excellent example to us because he teaches us about loyalty. Loyalty is faithfulness, trustworthiness, and dependability. We should all be loyal to our Lord Jesus Christ.