the only one
"I am God; there is no other!" —Isaiah 45:22
Does your life and Christmas depend on anyone or anything other than Jesus? The Lord says: "I am the Lord, there is no other" (Is 45:6, 18, 22). The Lord proclaims there is no other god besides Him (Is 45:21). He says: "There is no just and saving God but Me" (Is 45:21). The first of the Ten Commandments says: "You shall not have other gods besides Me" (Ex 20:3; Dt 5:7). Therefore, we should pray and live: "Only in God is my soul at rest; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Stronghold" (Ps 62:2-3).
Jesus is the only name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12) and our "only Master and Lord" (Jude 4). He is the only Way to the Father (Jn 14:6). Therefore, we should say: "Only in the Lord are just deeds and power" (Is 45:24).
Many Christians' Christmases depend almost wholly on family, friends, presents, parties, money, food, or pleasures. While we thank the Lord for all His temporal gifts, we are not to depend on them, even slightly. Christmas and life mean Christ (see Phil 1:21). If we were like Job, if we lost everything but the Lord, if we became impoverished and starving, alone and bereaved, we could still have Christmas because nothing can separate us from Christ's love (Rm 8:35). Jesus Christ is our only Need in life.
Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me so much that You gave me Your only Son. May I believe in Him and love Him totally.
Promise: "The blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to life, and the poor have the good news preached to them." —Lk 7:22
Praise: When other things became more important than spending time with the Lord, Timothy knew he had to repent. He changed his lifestyle to focus on Jesus first of all.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape on Developing a Deep Personal Relationship with Jesus on audio AV 52-1 or video V-52.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 28, 2010
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