The Christmas story itself is a very clear revelation of God’s provision for the salvation of man. The story clearly declares that the child that was born is the eternal second Person of the Trinity, the divine Son of God. The Bible leaves no doubt whatever regarding this. Those who deny this just deny the truth and that is not unusual these days. It certainly is the most remarkable event in history.
There are also many lessons to be learned within this story. One very significant lesson is that in the accomplishment of God’s business He uses very ordinary people from a worldly point of view. Status, wealth, popularity and celebrity are never a criteria for the success of His work. God most often chooses to do His things quietly and among the humble of this earth. The humble are a very precious people in God’s sight. In Matthew chapter five, Jesus congratulates the poor of spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. In a day when we live among such a party and popularity conscious crowd it is easy to see the churches turned into nothing more than a circus, just plain worldliness with a religious mask. I am amazed to see so many professed believers today who are content with “gospel lite”. ( I refuse to use the word “light” because there is so little real light in them).
The New Testament demands holiness on the part of God’s people, and a gospel message apart from a clear and clarion call for holiness is no real gospel at all. We are not called to be a part of the crowd, to fit in and make the world comfortable. Unbelievers should squirm and be very uncomfortable in our churches. To attempt to make our churches attractive to unbelievers is dishonest and an attempt to change the very nature of what we are. Our churches are the place of the redeemed. It is the place of the humble and the pure in heart.
