The Christmas story is literally crammed full of powerful lessons. I encourage you in the few days left leading up to Christmas to spend time reading the Christmas story (Matthew 1:1 – 2:23, Luke 1:1 – 2:40, John 1:1 – 18). Quiet yourself and everything around you, read through the narrative, and let God teach you some of the compelling lessons. During the weeks before Christmas, I’ve been blogging about some of those teachings. Here’s the last message:

JESUS IS RADICALLY DIVISIVE

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him…

Matthew 2:3

We tend to think of Jesus as nice, safe and passive. But Herod heard the news of the birth of a “king” and shook in his boots. So did the religious establishment. Rightly so. This is the same “king” who dumped tables over in the Temple, referred to the religious elite as a “brood of vipers”, and said, “Do not think I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Jesus knew the truth of the gospel would divide the world. It is as true today as it has always been.

Which Jesus do you know? A passive, safe Jesus that exists primarily to meet your needs and make you comfortable? Or the real Jesus that is the “way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6)?

The Christmas story is literally crammed full of powerful lessons. I encourage you in the days leading up to Christmas to spend time reading the Christmas story (Matthew 1:1 – 2:23, Luke 1:1 – 2:40, John 1:1 – 18). Quiet yourself and everything around you, read through the narrative, and let God teach you some of the compelling lessons. During the weeks before Christmas, I’m blogging about some of those teachings. Here’s the second message:

GOD’S KINGDOM HAS ALWAYS AND WILL ALWAYS

PLACE TREMENDOUS VALUE ON THE LEAST, THE LAST AND THE LOST

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

Luke 2:8-9

Who were the first to hear about the Christ child’s birth? Who were the first visitors to see the Savior with their own eyes? The Roman ruler? The wealthy upper class? The religious establishment? Nope. Dudes keeping sheep. Those that were the least in the society of the day. Those that were the last anyone would expect to be the first to witness the birth of the Messiah. Those that were lost in society at the time. God’s kingdom has always and will always place tremendous value on the least, the last and the lost.

Is that where our heart is as well?

The Christmas story is literally crammed full of powerful lessons. I encourage you in the days leading up to Christmas to spend time reading the Christmas story (Matthew 1:1 – 2:23, Luke 1:1 – 2:40, John 1:1 – 18). Quiet yourself and everything around you, read through the narrative, and let God teach you some of the compelling lessons. During the weeks before Christmas, I’m blogging about some of those teachings. Here’s the second message:

WHEN GOD DOES AWESOME STUFF, THE PROPER RESPONSE IS PRAISE

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…

Luke 1:46-47

Mary knew God had touched her life. She didn’t have all the answers. She was probably still a bit fearful and apprehensive. She had no idea what exactly lied ahead for her. But she knew God had done and was doing something really awesome in her life. Her response? Unabashed, heartfelt praise. Mary sang a song of praise to God that’s recorded in Luke 1:46-55. Plain and simple, when God does good for us, the most perfect response is pure, honest thankfulness and praise, acknowledging his favor over us.

Where do you need to spend time praising God today?