Christmas, a time of obedience. Here is the third and fourth example of people submitting to God, obeying what He had to say in spite of all the forces of tradition, culture and fear of man, and thereby playing significant roles in the great plan of salvation.

First we have  Zechariah. Even though an angel appeared to him, coming directly from the presence of God,  Zechariah doubted his word,  and therefore was struck dumb until the birth of John. Fortunately, he learned his lesson. After John was born and his wife wanted  to name the baby John, but the relatives and neighbors objected. By custom a child is named after someone in his family; calling him John was a breach of tradition and normalcy. But  Zechariah obeyed what the angel had told him and wrote, “His name is John!”

How about us? Are we willing to obey God when it contravenes tradition, culture and the ideas of those around us?

Second we have Joseph, a good and righteous man. He found out somehow that his fiancé was pregnant—what a shock!  “…but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” However, Joseph, being a good man, faithful to the law, thought to divorce her quietly, protecting her from public disgrace

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

Joseph, unlike Zechariah, obeyed  immediately, “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” And, contrary to custom, “he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”

A second time Joseph immediately obeyed the command of God: “An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

Joseph didn’t hesitate a moment. He awoke, “got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt” thereby foiling the plans of Herod and Satan to eliminate the Savior.

Then, a third time God spoke to Joseph in a dream. “After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.”

Obedience in the face of tradition, the law, irrationality, fear and danger–this is what God used to preserve the life of the Messiah. Joseph’s obedience played a huge role in you being saved today.

What will God do through our obedience to Him? Let us follow in the footsteps of these people who were instruments in the hands of God.

As we approach Christmas, I’ve been thinking about its multifaceted meaning.

One important part of the message of Christmas is obedience.
There are four power examples for us, today we will look at one.

First is Jesus himself. Think about who He was
Col 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Col 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Col 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Col 1:19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

Jesus was God who lived in heaven, the perfect place with no evil, darkness, evil or death
–He was worshipped by all
–He filled the whole universe, being everywhere at the same time.
He was all-powerful, able to create from nothing.
–He lived outside of time.
–He was free from suffering, difficulty, discouragement and danger.
He lived in beauty, plenty and perfection.

But, in obedience to the Father’s plan, He willingly left it all
He came to the earth to dwell among unwashed bodies, bad smells, lice and fleas, sickness and death.
–He lived among stubborn, rebellious, evil, and destructive people.
–He was surrounded by those who rejected him—all so different than heaven.
–And he subjected himself to young, inexperienced parents, knowing they would make mistakes.
–He limited himself to being in one place, in the tiny body of a baby, and later being a man only in Israel, no longer filling the universe. And he limited himself to one moment in time.
–He also gave up his power, his privileges, his freedom as God.
He only spoke what God the Father told him to say.
He only healed as God directed
He only acted according the plan of the Father.

And he knew the outcome of his obedience: suffering, rejection, ridicule, becoming sin, death on the cross and burial, and yet He obeyed to the last detail, and to every difficulty.

Why? Because He knew the outcome of the Father’s plan: redemption for all mankind, for the universe and the future. His obedience was worthwhile, it was of ultimate significance, and valuable because it was voluntary.

His is the epitome of obedience, a great example to us, for we, too, are also called to obedience. Jesus said, “If any man would be my disciple, he much deny himself, take up His cross daily and follow me.”

As we obey, He will guide, He will empower, He will include us in his great plans, just as the Father did for him.

The spirit of Christmas is joyful obedience to the King of Kings who knows what He is doing!

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“What certainty, what confidence we have in coming into your presence, O Lord God, King of the universe. The wonder is that you delight in our coming, you invite us to prayer, you call us to praise, you command us to intercede. We please your heart when we cry out to you in prayer.

“Praise you that you are the all-knowing One. You know the deep longings of our hearts, our dreams and desires. You understand our motives, you know how things will work out in the future as a result of our desires, decisions and words.

“You guide and protect, and at times you let us go the way of rebellion if we insist. As you said to the people of Israel, “So you think having a king is best? Try Saul for a few years!”
“Move in my present situation, Lord: bring healing to this one tense relationship, bring growth and unity, grace and repentance. Only you can do this. I praise you now for what you will do.”

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Praise you, Lord, for your undeserved goodness, poured on upon us daily, manifested in multiple ways, like giving us the gifts of sight, speech, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, things we take for granted, but miss much if we lose them.

Then there are the major, majestic, mighty ways you pour out your goodness on us: pardon from definitely deserved death, the gift of eternal life, the indwelling of the Spirit, the wonder of your Word, an intimate relationship with you, belonging in your family, guidance, meaning, purpose and protection in life. Plus, help in every circumstance, membership in the Church Universal, and abundant grace at all times. There is no end to the wonderful flow of your goodness, just as there is no end to learning about your marvelous and magnificent character.

You are the Three-in-One God: the Father who plans, the Son who brings it to pass, the Holy Spirit who finishes it up. You are the perfect Person, the perfect Personality, the perfect Planner, the perfect Partner who invites us into your work. May we take your hand and join you in what you are doing.

First, thank you for your prayers, the procedure went well and my heart is back in rhythm.

Psalm 30:11 “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,”

[You answered David, you brought him through the dark, cold valley like in the picture below. You delivered him from his fears, his enemies, his dangers. And for what purpose?]

Psalm 30:12 “that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.”

[You saved him so David might have the privilege of exalting you further, you who are worthy of worship, of love and obedience.]

“O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.”

[And you, Lord, ARE worthy of thanks forever and ever. May we daily live in the power of thanksgiving, of praise, of worship. Why?  So that, for the joy set before us, we can endure whatever cross you deem necessary, knowing that we will be set down in heaven with you at the wedding feast of the Lamb!

What a hope, what a future, what a privilege to live with, for and in you Lord Jesus! May we do it well.]