Driving near our home you can see an inflatable manger scene right there in a yard with about ten other inflatables including, Frosty the Snowman, Santa in race car and a train loaded with Christmas gifts. It is the time of the year when Jesus shows up in all kinds of places and in many songs.
For the next four weeks I want to look at some Bible texts connected with the birth of Jesus, and hopefully see some things often overlooked this time of year.
Today let’s consider Luke 1:33 where the angel says to Mary, “and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." That little child who would be “asleep on the hay” was coming to bring a long-awaited kingdom. He was coming to rule and reign. He was coming not to bring us the Christmas season and give us another yard ornament, but to become absolutely sovereign in our lives.
We know that Herod felt threatened when he learned men from the east had come seeking this child of destiny. Herod’s paranoia is well known to historians, but in this case he was right about something. This child was bringing a kingdom that would stand opposed to the kingdoms of this world.
The king himself would come as a little child, enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, and wash the feet of his followers. Those who accepted his rule would live by values opposite of those of this world. They would be so captured by the age to come that they would not live so much as people of this nation or that one, but as citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20).
Let me challenge you this season to evaluate everything in light of the kingdom life and values that this child brings.
Focus Scriptures
Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
Matthew 5:3 and 10
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10
9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (emphasis added).
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