Jesus on My Terms? Merry Obedience/Christmas!
Jesus on My Terms? Merry Obedience/Christmas!
Imagine expecting a savior all your life and when He shows up he is not in the package you expected and accepting him will cost you everything you are. Ruined wedding and honeymoon?
Reputation is what people think of you but it may not be what you really are. Most of us work very hard for good reputation and sacrifice our real self which can only be found in truth.
This Christmas meet a man who found and held unto the truth at the expense of his reputation. Joseph met Jesus and accepted Him in Jesus’ terms not at his own terms. Joseph obeyed the voice of God at the expense of his reputation. Jesus will cost you everything including dying to self. Please read this version of the Christmas account in Matthew 1:18-23:
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.[d] And he called His name Jesus.
The choice by Joseph was everlasting one that will ruin his reputation in the community. It was a death to self. Am I willing to accept Jesus at his terms even after revelations? Or should I only accept him based on my pre-conceived ideas. Joseph obeyed the voice of God. My problem often is not hearing the voice of God but obedience. After all God’s voice and will has been made known to us in His word the Bible. Obedience grants me Immanuel, “God with us”.
Obedience is better than sacrifice. If I continue to insist on my terms, people will not be saved thru my efforts. Jesus came to save his people. You and I cannot stop God. When I refuse to obey, He moves to the next person who will obey and become a great blessing to others.
Joseph could not stop Jesus’s birth because Jesus had already been conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was offered opportunity to be the step father of the Son of God. Will you be a home for Jesus to grow and thrive and be a blessing to people? Yes, I will be ridiculed all my life if I do so.
Will you and I risk everything and our reputation to meet and welcome the saving Jesus this season and forever? What are the terms you are trying to negotiate with God – good works instead of believing and trust; forgiving one who hurt you, good health, marriage, finances or etc.? God only asks for obedience; no negotiations. Will you tell someone about the saving Jesus this season?
This is Jesus’ terms: “23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us”. 1 John 3:23-24 NLT. Do you believe or just playing with the baby Jesus?
We can start today in the obedience walk with God. Yes, we missed yesterday’s opportunities but today is a new day. We thank God for Mary and Joseph’s obedience. Now let’s put it into practice.
Merry obedience is merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and family!
Imagine expecting a savior all your life and when He shows up he is not in the package you expected and accepting him will cost you everything you are. Ruined wedding and honeymoon?
Reputation is what people think of you but it may not be what you really are. Most of us work very hard for good reputation and sacrifice our real self which can only be found in truth.
This Christmas meet a man who found and held unto the truth at the expense of his reputation. Joseph met Jesus and accepted Him in Jesus’ terms not at his own terms. Joseph obeyed the voice of God at the expense of his reputation. Jesus will cost you everything including dying to self. Please read this version of the Christmas account in Matthew 1:18-23:
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.
20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.[d] And he called His name Jesus.
The choice by Joseph was everlasting one that will ruin his reputation in the community. It was a death to self. Am I willing to accept Jesus at his terms even after revelations? Or should I only accept him based on my pre-conceived ideas. Joseph obeyed the voice of God. My problem often is not hearing the voice of God but obedience. After all God’s voice and will has been made known to us in His word the Bible. Obedience grants me Immanuel, “God with us”.
Obedience is better than sacrifice. If I continue to insist on my terms, people will not be saved thru my efforts. Jesus came to save his people. You and I cannot stop God. When I refuse to obey, He moves to the next person who will obey and become a great blessing to others.
Joseph could not stop Jesus’s birth because Jesus had already been conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was offered opportunity to be the step father of the Son of God. Will you be a home for Jesus to grow and thrive and be a blessing to people? Yes, I will be ridiculed all my life if I do so.
Will you and I risk everything and our reputation to meet and welcome the saving Jesus this season and forever? What are the terms you are trying to negotiate with God – good works instead of believing and trust; forgiving one who hurt you, good health, marriage, finances or etc.? God only asks for obedience; no negotiations. Will you tell someone about the saving Jesus this season?
This is Jesus’ terms: “23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us”. 1 John 3:23-24 NLT. Do you believe or just playing with the baby Jesus?
We can start today in the obedience walk with God. Yes, we missed yesterday’s opportunities but today is a new day. We thank God for Mary and Joseph’s obedience. Now let’s put it into practice.
Merry obedience is merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and family!
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