DailyWhitt: THE PLEASURE OF CHRISTMAS

The joy of giving really is greater than receiving! Christmas pleasure is the pleasure of God the Father giving to us.

Luke 2:14 (TNIV) "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
English Standard Version: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” God’s peace is extended to those “with whom he is pleased.” How can we be one of those people? The Greek word for “please,” or “pleasure,” occurs four places in Luke. in each occurrence, it is directly related to God’s pleasure.

God the Father is Pleased With His Son - Luke 3:22
Before Jesus peaches the first sermon, heals the first sickness, or performs the first miracle, God the Father is already pleased with him. Jesus is the original focal point of all the Father’s love and pleasure. I believe all pleasure the Father finds in us will be because we are, or will be, in Christ!

God the Father is Pleased to Reveal the Kingdom to Little Children - Luke 10:21

God the Father is Pleased to Give the Kingdom to Little Children
Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

King James Version - "it is your Father’s good pleasure"

The phrase "good pleasure,” is a verb in Greek: "to be a pleasure" or "to be pleased by." You could translate it: "It pleased God," or, "God chose it gladly - to give you a Kingdom."

This helps explain another earlier and much more mysterious passage about God’s pleasure.
Isaiah 53:10 (KJV) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

1. God is well pleased with His Beloved Son.

2. God desires to be well pleased with us - the sinners!

3. So, God is pleased to punish His beloved Son, in order to save us!
God nailed his Only Begotten Son, to a cross, broken and beaten, so he could give us the kingdom! Jesus took the punishment for our sin, effectively releasing us from sin and death. And look at the attitude of Jesus is this. He’s the one headed to the cross, so that the Father can give us the kingdom. And yet he so calmly puts the disciple's minds at ease. He says, “do not be afraid little flock.” The one who’s going to the cross to make it all happen is the one offering comfort! That shows me not just the Father’s love for me, but the Son’s as well!
Galatians 2:20b I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Jesus, the Son, also loved me! He loved the Father, and became obedient to death, but he also loved me and gave himself up for me! Don’t let anyone talk you out of a personal Lord and Savior. Jesus loved you personally, and gave himself up for you! Love is the heart of the Gospel!

Here’s some more great news about God’s pleasure, as it relates to you!