Take Another Look!
I’m so excited to share this book with you. It’s not exactly new because it was originally released as “They Saw Him First.” I want us to look at Christ’s birth and life to explore the fullness of what it means to us. Just as there was a reason the shepherds were chosen to see Him first, we too have been gifted unique assignments and privileges that impact our lives and others. Jesus commanded us to be fruitful in John 15:2. Fruit and fruitfulness are a major function of life in Christ. The fruit of the shepherds’ announcement was the people hearing it, believing it, and expecting to also see Jesus. As the Word says, “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word.” The Word also says, “in the mouths of two or three witnesses shall a word be established.”
Hearing created anticipation and seeing Christ was the manifestation of the thing established. Christ’s life was edification to those who saw, heard, and believed Him. Though we have not seen Him, we will. Until then, we live in the fullness His life provides us. The psalmist gave thanks to God who daily loaded him with benefits. We thank God through Jesus’ life and sacrifice that we live a life full of benefits and abundance. Are you living in the fullness life in Christ provides? If not, I admonish you to look again! Looking again didn’t stop with the first version of this book. In late October or early November, I felt a nudge from the Lord to “finish” this book. I published the book under the title, “They Saw Him First” in 2019 but it always felt incomplete. I knew something was missing but I never put much thought into it. After this nudge, I read through the book and corrected grammatical errors. I still wasn’t done, though. As I read, I began to research what I was hearing in my spirit. I began researching more and discovered deeper connections from Christmas to Calvary. Initially, I wanted to highlight the journey of the shepherds, but there was more to be seen than what was originally published.
I looked and what I found blessed my life so much, I’m thrilled to be able to share it with you. I also discovered that much of what I wrote in 2019 was becoming more and more prominent in the teaching of the nativity story. I like to consider myself a perfectionist, but in truth, I’m more of a procrastinator than anything else. That’s the one thing I’ll ask the Lord for this Christmas! I knew that time was of the essence and that I needed to get this done long before Christmas, so here we are! As I took another look at this story, I pray that you are encouraged to look deeper inside your relationship with Christ to discover the personal journey you must take. I do a number of things so carving out time to write, edit, and publish is a herculean task. It’s herculean, not impossible! In taking the time to read and re-read this book, I found myself back at the beginning. I struggled with naming this book, “Take Another Look” or “Look Again!” in 2019 but went with “They Saw Him First.” I don’t find it at all coincidental that I chose the original title for this expanded edition of this book. My prayer is that you are blessed by what you read!