What Is Your

 

"Purpose" can be a noun (the reason for which something is done, or created, or for which something exists. Or, it can be a verb (have as one's intention or objective.) Which is it in your life? Basically, what is your purpose?

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Daniel 1:8 KJV)

That's not the first use of "purposed" in the Bible, but it's one that has a very good lesson for those of us who thought we knew where we were going but ended up on a different path. As a babe, it was expected that Daniel would be educated as an elite member of Jewish leadership. His name was a combination of two Hebrew words that mean Judge of God. A war determined his education would be used elsewhere:

And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. (Daniel 1:3-4 KJV)

I won't go into all that happened to Daniel - you really should read the full book to understand how he prospered as a result of his purpose. He had one goal at first, kept that one as well as one he made to worship only God. He had a talent, and he continued in prayer as well as worship with God in mind.

Another of the 55 times purpose or purposed appears in the Bible is another of my favorite verses, spoken during Paul's explanation to Agrippa as to why he was a Christian:

And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; (Acts 26:14-16 KJV)

That time Jesus provided Paul with a purpose. Jesus made Paul a minister, an Apostle called out of time, a witness to what he had seen and the things he would see in the future. Paul answered that call and fulfilled that purpose. To a certain extent, all of us are given a similar purpose:

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:27-28 KJV)

This is an awesome chapter that all Christians should read and heed. It really doesn't matter what we are called to do - what matters is whether or not we do what we are called to do. It matters that we are working the purpose God has provided for us to serve and worship Him. Paul describes it as one body, as Christ is one body. 

When we aren't listening to God, we can easily end up where we do not belong. Paul purposed to go to Rome, but the Holy Spirit did not allow that journey at Paul's timing:

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. (Romans 1:13 KJV)

Paul said that oftentimes he desired to go to Rome to work among the Christians there, but he made other trips instead that benefited a number of growing churches. When he finally went to Rome, it was a prisoner, and eventually he was killed for his beliefs, his preaching, his worship of the God he served so well.

Are we willing to purpose in our heart to follow our God wherever we are led? Can we speak the truths found in His word, inspired by God though written down by men across century after century? We have seen proof in the Dead Sea Scrolls that the book of Isaiah serves as an example as to how that was done. Pick up that wonderful book and read it with a prayer that God will help you find purpose for now and definitely for eternity. Read of the men who did, and were blessed.

Compassion

 

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV)

And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. (Exodus 2:6 KJV)

Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. (Matthew 15:32 KJV)

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, (Luke 10:33 KJV)

The King James Version has "compassion" in verses 41 times. Seems as though that speaks to the importance of the word and it's application to people in our lives.

Strong's gives the Hebrew word as: חָמַל châmal (khaw-mal') A primitive root; to commiserate; by implication to spare: - have compassion, (have) pity, spare. The Greek in Matthew is: σπλαγχνίζομαι

splagchnizomai (splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee) - Middle voice from G4698; to have the bowels yearn, that is, (figuratively) feel sympathy, to pity: - have (be moved with) compassion. Another Greek word used in the New Testament is: ἐλεέω eleeō (el-eh-eh'-o) From G1656; to compassionate (by word or deed, specifically by divine grace): - have compassion (pity on), have (obtain, receive, shew) mercy (on).

Oxford Dictionary defines the English: el·ee·mos·y·nar·y (eləˈmäsnərē) Adjective relalting to or dependent on charity; charitable.

Why look at the source words? It makes a difference when working with translations. At my home church so many decades ago, a teen friend took an interest in words and became a Bible translator. I remember his mentioning a language that had no single word for the emotion "fear not.' The closest they could come was the phrase "do not shiver in your livers." Think how many times we read the phrase, the concept, that we are not to fear in our Bibles. We do need to know what words mean and how they are applied.

We are told God has compassion. We are told Jesus has compassion. We are told to study in order to be like Jesus, to do as He did - therefore we much have compassion - and we must understand how it is applies. We are to feel sympathy, pity, our emotions are to be moved by it, we are to show both mercy and grace, to spare people from harm, and to help them when they are harmed.

Jesus feed thousands. Can we provide funds or time to feed those who are hungry? The Samaritan paid both for a room and medical care. Can we provide funds or time to do the same? God not only forgives us, He gives us eternity, for by grace are we saved through faith in His ability to do so. Can we forgive?

It's not as easy as it sounds. If you are like me, there was one name that leaped to mind as being unforgivable. Maybe they didn't hurt us, but one of our loved ones. Yet - we are to have compassion on the unlovable. What is it worth to you to be more like Christ? Oh, yes - and I like John's inspired wording:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:1-6 KJV)

Thoughts from Romans 8

As usual, my sermon notes from 2 July 2020 refer to a single verse: Romans 8:6. However, it is seldom a good thing to take a single verse and comment on it until we've placed it in context. As with many chapters in the Bible, chapter 8 begins in the middle of a thought. We can tell that because Paul writes:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2 KJV)

From the Pulpit Commentary Expository on Romans 8:2:

The designation of this new law is in marked opposition to that in which the ἐγὼ (ego) was before said to be held; we have life in opposition to death, and the Spirit in opposition to the flesh, as well as freedom in opposition to captivity. The Spirit is, in fact, the Divine Spirit, taking possession of what is spiritual (now at length brought into view) in the inward man, making him partaker in the Divine life, and able to serve God freely. The expressions used bring out strikingly one essential distinction between Law and Gospel, viz. that the principle of the former is to control and discipline conduct by requirements and threats; but of the latter to introduce into man's inner being a new principle of life, whence right conduct may spontaneously flow.

We learn in chapter 6 how mankind had been slaves to righteousness - living by the Law as given to Moses, which teaches what is sinful. Christ, however, brought the message of God's grace through faith:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Peter explains this and Luke is inspired to include it in Acts:

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:11 KJV) (Do read that whole chapter to understand this statement was made to followers of Christ questioning the addition of other followers. Always a learning process.)

Paul mentions it in his inspired epistles:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9 KJV)

Back to Romans 8:

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4 KJV)

The Law given to Moses was right, and when followed provided righteousness to men - but mankind is pretty much driven by a sinful nature that follows what the "flesh," or personal desires we have. Through Christ, God's grace is provided and the Holy Spirit accompanies us on our journey throuigh life.

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:4-8 KJV)

So - why would we want to be guided by the Spirit?

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9 KJV)

I've accepted His invitation to be His. I have faith in His Grace. Come, read more and more about God and His work with mankind.

Pay Attention to the Bible, please

We had a rough January. A cold at the first, Covid’s Omicron at the last. Being shut-ins, we read a lot. One line stuck with me: "I had lost something I never knew I had."

I read it a bit after I read a post on Facebook from a young mother whose husband was treating her the same way a husband treated my granddaughter - a combination of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse that had turned physically dangerous. A wife should never receive such from her husband.

Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. (Malachi 2:14 KJV)

Men who deal treacherously with their wives are not following Christ. especially those whose commitment to their wives were made after years of being church members, purporting themselves to be Christians, and who publicly proclaimed they followed God's commandments. If you’ve read here before, you know one of my most quoted verses:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV)

Ephesians 5 mentions the wife’s submission first, then explains what type of husband to whom she should submit. Paul describes a loving husband who protects and loves his wife.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: (Ephesians 5:25-29 KJV)

The two men I’ve mentioned most likely lied to themselves just as they did to others, for both mistreat their own bodies with an excess of alcohol that robs them of the ability to function with care for others. Never doubt - that can be a lethal combination. How can they love those they are consistently damaging?

What is a wife to do? Matthew, Mark, and Luke  - in the graphic above – wrote of what Jesus said when he sent His disciples out to preach that “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” they were told what to do if they were received in a house that was worthy – and what to do if they were not received:

And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. (Matthew 10:13-14 KJV)

I firmly believe that if a husband deals treacherously with his wife, and threatens the welfare of his children a wife should depart out of that house. She should pray for her husband, that his eyes should be open to the damage and that he would turn from his treachery because he loves God as well as his wife and children.

Some men will. Others won’t. That's when the line I read became firm in my mind - and I wrote this blog. Someday, at one time or another, these husband's will realize: "I had lost something I never knew I had." 

If they don't change, consider what Paul says of such:

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (Titus 1:15-16 KJV)

Wives – there is protection for you. You do not have to live with fear of when he will lose his temper and hit you. You do not have to live with his threats. If you have no where to turn, contact me anonymously by posting a Comment and I will reach out to you with examples of success. You are worth my time and prayers. 

The Simplicity of Christianity

 

"The Second Mile" (used only with Michael Belk's permission

"I question the simplicity of the Christian invitation to accept the gift of salvation; 'Just accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior' and you will have it all - redemption from sin and a seat in Heaven."

(That's a quote from a devotional by Michael Belk found in YouVersion. I first met Belk through his photographs, now he has a fuller site as he shares his faith and invites us to "Come Along for Journeys with the Messiah.")

The person being quoted is absolutely is right - there is a simple answer to the question:

Then he led them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved---you and your family." (Acts 16:30-31 GNB)

- and Belk is right in saying it's a bit wrong. Living as a follower of Christ is not simple.

The speaker reworded John 3:16’s simplicity without the “believeth in him,” which Paul basically repeated in Acts 16:30. So let’s take a look at how those believe in words impact the simplicity. 

Believing in Jesus requires believing what He said about Himself.  

Believing in Jesus requires we keep God’s commandments, which include loving God and our neighbors.

Believing in Jesus means we understand that we will break some commandments. We also need to understand how/why we receive forgiveness for doing so. 

If we believe what Jesus says about Himself, He is God. Just this month I used a scripture example where religious leaders condemned Jesus:

The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. (John 10:33 KJV)

Yet many today will tell us that Jesus did not mean that He was God, ignoring a verse just above that one:

I and my Father are one. (John 10:30 KJV)

Paul also quoted scripture he knew to confirm who Jesus was:

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6 KJV)

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. (1 Corinthians 8:6 KJV)

There are other such scriptures, but this would be way too long to read if I copied many more, so let's move on to keeping God's commandments. Begin with my favorite:

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:35-40 KJV)

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. (John 14:23-24 KJV)

Believing in Jesus means understanding what God wants us to do besides believing He exists and following His commandments:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)

The primary reward is being with God for eternity - which brings us back to John 3:16 and preceeding verses:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:14-16 KJV)

Jesus was not a Christian. We who strive to follow His example were first called Christians in one city after spending a year spreading the good news that Jesus was born, preached the Word of God, died for the sins of others, and rose on the third day to show mankind what God was and could do.

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26 KJV)

Jesus came to change the lives of individuals. His life showed what we should do about governments, and there was never a move to overthrow anyone - except greedy money changers who turned our Father's house into a den of thieves. 

A house of prayer. That's pretty simple, too. We are to talk to God, read His word, follow His commandments. They are simple, too. Love God and love our fellowman. Yet we fail at that simplicity, and God still loves us. We all are coming up short on any measurement against God's plan for us, but God is able to forgive a repentant soul

But God has shown us how much he loves us---it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! By his blood we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God's anger! (Romans 5:8-9 GNB)

What makes all that simplicity difficult is an enemy promising us mirror images of God's reality. Here's Peter's example and encouragemenet:

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:7-11 KJV)

Walking With God

 

Dog Walk, Bandon, Oregon

As I looked for a graphic to fit today’s subject, I looked at pages and pages in Commons, this one spoke to me before I read the caption and noticed the two dogs. Sometimes a walk alone does give us time to reflect upon our relationship with God.

The theme for this post came to me as I was dozing off. I used my Echo to tell Alexa to remind me in the morning about those who walked with God. Ridiculous, of course, if this was to be the theme, God Himself would remind me.

I do spend time at night and in the morning with God, even before considering what I might get from His word. At times, my conscience speaks of things that I do need to discuss with Him. I do not wish to hide as Adam and Eve did:

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:6-8 KJV)

I cannot explain “the voice of the Lord God,” but I understand why Adam and his wife would hide themselves. That much I’ve felt as regrets were on my mind. Regrets from my own actions. When I do think of voice, I think of words, which brings to mind a verse I’ve used often:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2 KJV)

Two verses mention another man walking with God:

And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:21-24 KJV)

Those are all the verses about Enoch. We have no biblical information about his life, except he begat Methuselah, and was the grandfather of Noah. We do know from two of the verses that Enoch walked with God.

While we don’t know about Enoch’s father Jared, nor his son Methuselah, but the Bible does tell us about Noah:

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:8-9 KJV)

In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews we learn a bit more of Enoch:

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5 KJV)

We also learn that God expects us to come to Him believing:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)

The chapter has many verses that begin “By faith,” then names a person who lived his faith in God. In Hebrews 11:4 we find that those included in the Old Testament as being righteous have God, through His inspired word giving testimony to their righteousness, and though they are dead, they still testify about God’s closeness in their lives.

The book of Micah is also inspired by God, and I love this verse:

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8 KJV)

We may not be judged by, but we are certainly known by the people we have in our lives. Outside of family, we identify them as “My friend . . .” and we testify to the times we spend with them, where we go, what we do, and the pleasure it gives us. This Friday I’ll have lunch with a lady I met at our church. She lives in the northwest corner of another state, but when we comes, I will enjoy her company and mention to others that we had lunch. That’s a testimony to our friendship.

I do the same with our God. Through the workings of the Holy Spirit He provided as our Comforter when Jesus ascended, I do walk with His word as a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105) and I use His word that I might not sin. (Psalm 119:11.)

Psalm 199 is an awesome study on its own. No other verse/book in the Bible was written as an acrostic poem. For each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet there are eight verses. With so much available to read, there is no end to the opportunities to seek God through His word. Sometimes it’s a little difficult to end a blog, though! There are good times walking through God’s word with Him.

Americans and Christianity

 

Wikipedia Commons: Child Jesus

“Christianity Today” website had an online article that caught my attention. It had to do with whether Jesus was the Son of God.  It begins:

Christmas is a celebration of a real event, according to most Americans. Just don’t expect them to know exactly why Jesus was born and came to earth.

Personally, I don't know why anyone would be a member of a church purporting to be "Christian" without knowing who Jesus Christ claimed to be. If such a person could not accept that He was the Son of God, why belong to a church worshipping Him as such. Yet, according to the Christianity Today (CT) survey, 9 out of 10 Americans will celebrate Christmas, while not nearly that 90% are members of a Christian church, and an even smaller percentage believe Jesus is the Son of God.

Let me be clear on one point. I believe that Jesus is both the Son of God and is God, too. I know, that doesn't sound possible, but His disciple John wrote an explanation:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1-3 KJV)

There are additional verses following this, but that first verse in John is just as important as Genesis 1:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 KJV)

In an earlier blog I stated that when a person can believe both Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1, they would have no trouble accepting Jesus as the Son of God.

You see, we do not worship three different gods. Christianity is a monotheistic religion worshipping one God, described in the Hebrew Shema:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: (Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV)

When we read the story of Abraham willing to trust God sufficiently that he would physically sacrifice his own son Isaac, we read a verse very important to me:

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8 KJV)

Jesus is God in human form. Why else would Jesus say:

I and my Father are one. (John 10:30 KJV)

The Jewish religious leaders believed He said it and tried to kill Him:

The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. (John 10:33 KJV)

That's my take. I'd love for you to comment with yours. Then we can compare ours against what CT said:

A new study from Lifeway Research finds close to 3 in 4 Americans believe Jesus was born in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. Even more say Jesus is the son of God the Father, but less than half believe Jesus existed prior to being born on that first Christmas.

CT continues with percentages from the Lifeway Research study released in 2022:

90% of Americans will celebrate Christmas;
72% say Jesus was born in Bethlehem two millennia ago;
80% say Jesus was the Son of God the Father;
41% say God's son existed before Jesus was born.

The body containing Jesus' mind, spirit, and soul was born 2,000 years ago. On that I agree wholeheartedly, but my God, the Father Jesus exampled us in prayer, is not confined by time as we are:

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8 KJV)

I find it sad that just over 40% of those who celebrate Christmas do not understand the biblical reason for His birth, as stated in the CT article:

". . .  some Americans do not connect the Jesus born in Bethlehem with the Messiah who already existed as God now coming in the flesh. . . . Despite widespread belief that Jesus really came to earth as a baby, there is far less familiarity with why Jesus said He came."

I suggest getting a digital King James Version and search the phrase "I am come" to see what Jesus Himself said why He came. Also do a search for all the verses containing the words: no man Father me, to find the seven verses where Jesus spoke of He and His Father. Also check Luke 19:10 and John 14:6.

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
(Luke 19:10 KJV)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

What we will celebrate during Christmas is a birth prophesied for centuries, fulfilled. After that, read the rest of the story.