As we begin to finally draw the curtain on Christmas 2017, we could learn a thing or two from the Christmas characters that can help us all year round. Just because Christmas is coming to an end, does not mean that we can’t consider the Bible to learn a thing or two from the infamous and famous characters from the Christmas story.
Royally-threatened Herod (Matthew 2:1-7, 16-18): This is the wicked king who was kinda worried that a new king was born. This would have been ordinarily great news however there was one problem. This king was neither born in his house nor one of his relatives. So Herod’s idea was to kill every kid two and under. Well, while the story casts Herod as a dark character, the truth is a lot of us are ‘Herods’ who have no problem identifying with Jesus as saviour yet deny His lordship and supremacy over our lives. Quick question: Is Jesus really LORD over your life? Remember you either take both dimensions (Lord and Saviour) or you take none.
Spoiler-alert – one day every person, nation and authority will bow before this Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11) and appear before God’s judgment seat. Denying His lordship doesn’t make Him any less Lord.
‘Sign-ful’ Maggi: The Maggi or Wise men as they are popularly known as were NOT three, as we have been led to believe by misinformed songs and un-researched Sunday school lessons, actually The Bible doesn’t state the number of Wise Men. Neither were they Igbo just because The Bible says Wise Men from The East. The Near-East was very essential to Biblical Geography. We know that These Wise Men were actually great Astrologers and Dream Interpreters from the Persian King. While we walk with God by faith, God is also a God of signs and wonders who can create the unusual to pass his message across.
God is not opposed to giving us glaring signs and symbols, the problem is when we expect that to become the default modus operandi of your relationship with God. Is it possible for God to actually reveal Himself to you and His plan in very glaring everyday happenings to you? You bet! God loves to reveal himself to those who are truly desperate and longing for Him!
Discerning Joseph (Matthew 2:13-21): So a guy is supposed to be married to a girl, girl shows up pregnant (not his) yet dude accepts the child and believes her story that she is conceived of The Holy Spirit. How does that happen? Simple answer? Discernment. This is perhaps a great part of the Christmas story for me.
Cultural norms have always placed women as more spiritual beings but God calls men to not just lead the family by providing the finances but also to be spiritual leaders as well. Think about this for a second, Mary sees an Angel who gets a gist of the plan from Gabriel yet when God wants to instruct the family to relocate Jesus to Egypt and get Him to return to Israel, Joseph is the one who gets that information in a dream. Dear Husbands and Fathers (prospective and current), God has stationed us to protect, preserve, nurture and instruct the wife and kids in our care. You can’t do a great job if you can’t hear from God for yourself.
Overall, God desires to lead His children and discernment (the ability to develop and use that spiritual sixth sense, available to all those who have a relationship with The LORD) is a must for all God’s children.
Surrendered Mary (Luke 1:26-38): Perhaps the most humbling statement in the Christmas story is I am The Lord’s Servant, may it be to me just as you have said (Luke 1:38). Many times we are eager to find out God’s plan for our lives but we are not surrendered to follow through the process. Being used of God is a very ‘cool’ thing but it also is a ticket to a very interesting ride of twists, and (many times) pain yet filled with rewards here on earth and eternally. It is not a ticket to fame or success, it is a fulfilling walk/work with God.
Think about Mary for a second….is a virgin yet conceives in a culture that would have ridiculed her, labelled her a liar, and a disgrace; gives birth to this special Jesus and when he is all grown up, one day attempts to see him only for Jesus to say “The people here are my mother and brothers” (Mark 3:33-35). As if that was not enough, she saw this son of hers executed in the most gruesome disgraceful way possible, no mother ever wishes that. The plan of God is not always palatable, it calls for surrender and sacrifice yet walking in God’s plan allows us to have the most fulfilling experiences walking with him.
Are you surrendered?
Interceding Simeon and Anna: These are two Christmas characters who get the least publicity yet Luke 2:25-38 introduces them to us. Simeon was a righteous and devout man in Jerusalem who was WAITING for the consolation of Israel (i.e. the messiah) and the Holy Spirit was upon him (Luke 2:25). Anna was a prophetess, widowed after seven years of marriage who never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Common denominator, both persons were prayerful people. Simeon was explicitly stated to be waiting for the messiah, Anna was also anticipating (even though it wasn’t explicitly stated, the question is how would she have been sensitive to speak about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Israel).
The lesson here is that the greatest response to prophecy is intercession i.e. prayer. But I prefer the word intercession, because to intercede is to be the link between two things, people, etc. When we intercede with prophecy, what we are simply doing is using our authority in the place of prayer to align God’s revealed mind with reality and spiritually positioning ourselves and circumstances to be recipients of God’s anticipated move. Therefore the next word you receive from God is not the ticket to go to sleep on the matter because ‘God has said’ but a call to prayer to align yourself and circumstance to ‘God said’.
As we draw the curtain on Christmas, I hope we would be mindful of these lessons all year round.
Have a great 2018!
Zjolt™ 