Have Yourself a Humble Little Christmas

Have Yourself a Humble Little Christmas

At this time of year, as Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, let’s take just a moment to reflect on some important reminders from scripture about the true meaning of Christmas.

• Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

For all who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior:

Christmas is a Reminder of God's Call to Humility

• 1 Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
• Followers of Jesus are commanded to be humble (loving, kind and respectful – not weak).

Christmas is a Reminder that Jesus is God

• John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• Clearly proclaimed in scripture, difficult to fully comprehend, a blessed truth at the core of Christian faith.

Christmas is a Reminder of What Jesus Gave Up for Us

• John 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
• Without diminishing the reality of His Deity, Jesus voluntarily (because of His eternal love for us) and temporarily (between His birth and death) surrendered the right to independently exercise some of His Godly attributes.

Christmas is a Reminder of Christ’s Humanity

• Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—
• Born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on a Roman cross for the sins of the world – fully Man and yet fully God.

Christmas is a Reminder of Christ’s Humility

• Luke 2:12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
• Spat upon, mocked, beaten, murdered – Jesus took the punishment we deserve upon Himself.

Christmas is a Reminder of Why Jesus Came into the World

• 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
• There is only one perfect, priceless and permanent payment for our sins against God – the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Christmas is a Reminder of God’s Great Love for Us

• Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
• When we didn’t deserve it, at great cost, God gave the greatest gift of all to reconcile us to Himself – Jesus.

But for those who haven’t heard, accepted and surrendered to the truth about Jesus:

Christmas is a Call to Reconciliation with God

• John 1:10-13 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
• Hear and heed the Good News!
• Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
• Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Christmas is the Perfect Reminder

For All People

Christian or Not

To Respond To

God’s Call to Humility

Prayer

Blessed Holy Father in Heaven, may the joy and truth of Christmas draw many closer to You. May Your disobedient children turn back towards the loving relationship they already have with You. May those who don’t know You as Lord and Savior surrender all that they are to Your Love and Your Truth. I offer this prayer in the name of my Savior Jesus. Amen.

Obedience Means Possibilities

Obedience Means Possibilities

From beginning to end the Bible is very clear, obedience to God is critically important to our relationship with Him.

• Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
• God spoke to the Nation of Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai – obey Me and you will be blessed.
• 1 Samuel 15:22 So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
• As Saul, the first King of Israel, made excuses for his blatant disobedience, God used the prophet Samuel to make clear God’s priority – obey Him.
• John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
• Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, was unambiguous as He told to His disciples what true love for Him looked like – obedience.
• Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
• Whoever we obey is our master – God shared this plain truth through Paul the Apostle.

Obedience Means Possibilities! Read on to see some of the ways God uses the obedience of His people.

Note - Familiarity with the historical Biblical characters discussed below is needed to appreciate the possibilities realized through their obedience to God. 

Purposes Accomplished - Moses

• Exodus 12:40-41 Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
• Whether delivering the Nation of Israel from bondage in Egypt or delivering the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to a lost person, obedience leads to God’s purposes being accomplished.

Prayers Offered - Hannah

• 1 Samuel 1:15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
• Faith in God leads to prayer to God. Worship, thanksgiving, confession, requests and much more are all a part of our ongoing fellowship with God through prayer. God tells us to ‘pray without ceasing’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Pride Destroyed - Naaman

• 2 Kings 5:13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”
• When we put our logic and standards above the commands, standards and principles of God, in pride we are turning our backs on Him and His blessings. Don’t try to rationalize what God says – do what God says.

Perseverance Demonstrated - Job

• James 5:11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
• We live in a world that is broken by sin. Losing our possessions, our loved ones and/or our health are tragedies that must be endured by keeping focused on the compassion and mercy of our loving Heavenly Father. Show your obedience by trusting in the Lord with all your heart, not leaning on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Power Displayed - Gideon

• Judges 6:15 So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
• Whatever the odds, whatever your history, whatever your doubts – faith in and obedience to God are an unbeatable combination.

Peace Attained - Mary Magdalene

• Mark 16:9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.
• No matter the burden you carry, no matter the struggles you face, surrender your life to God through Jesus in obedience to His call. Jesus longs to give you peace (Matthew 11:28-30).

Pruning Endured - Peter

• John 15:2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
• Pruning can be painful – but it is a necessary part of growing in our faith and producing more fruit for the glory of God. Even when we fail in the moment (rebuking Christ when He predicts His own death – see Mark 8:31-33 or denying a relationship with Jesus – see John 18: 15-18, 25-27), moving forward in obedience, despite our failures, leads to maturing in our faith.

Perceptions Changed - Thomas

• John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
• Jesus showed true love and patience as He dealt with Thomas’ doubts. Because he obeyed Jesus’ instructions, Thomas came to understand the truth of His resurrection.

Preaching Delivered - Stephen

• Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.
• Don’t pass by the opportunities to speak the truth of God’s Word when the Lord provides an opportunity. Don’t trust in yourself – trust what His Word will accomplish.

Persecution Experienced - Paul

• 2 Corinthians 11:24-25 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
• Jesus teaches that we are blessed when we are persecuted for His sake (Matthew 5:11-12). Don’t let disobedience stand in the way of your blessings.

As you celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas,

Celebrate the obedience of Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

Problems Endured - Joseph

• Matthew 1:20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
• Obey the Word of God – Watch as He deals with the problems in your life!

Promises Honored - Mary

• Luke 1:30-31 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
• Obey the Word of God – Witness the miracles He performs!

Prophesy Fulfilled - Jesus

• John 17:4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
• Obey the Word of God – Wait on the Lord; He is faithful to complete what He has started.

Prayer

Blessed Father, I fall so very short; but I know You love me anyway! Please Lord, help me to be an obedient servant. Give me the strength, courage and humility to obey You quickly, completely and joyfully. Use me for Your glory. Draw those who don’t know You into a loving relationship with You. Help all who love You to obey You. I pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.