Embracing the Gift: A Personal Christmas Reflection

The sermon at Limitless Church, possibly led by a pastor whose name is not directly discernible from the title "Limitless Sunday Service," delves into the profound implications of the Christmas story and its relevance to individual lives. The speaker underscores the personal nature of God's gift of Jesus, Emmanuel, who represents God's deep care and significance for each person. The Christmas narrative is not just a tale but a demonstration of God's faithfulness, love, and consistency throughout history.

Welcoming the congregation, the speaker expresses gratitude for their presence, especially on Christmas Eve, and suggests that their attendance is part of a divine plan. Newcomers are encouraged to connect with the church, and the congregation is invited to pray and worship, acknowledging God's word and the gift of His son.

The sermon highlights the shepherds' immediate and unquestioning response to the angel's announcement of Jesus' birth as an exemplar of faith. The speaker draws parallels between the shepherds' reaction and the expected response to God's gifts and callings in our lives. The narrative of Simeon, who awaited the consolation of Israel, is introduced, symbolizing the universal longing for the comfort and hope that Jesus brings.

The importance of our response to God's calling is emphasized, with Mary's submission to the angel's message serving as a model for our own. The speaker points out that we often place conditions on God's promises, but a true response to God's will should be unconditional. The shepherds' journey to see baby Jesus is cited as an act of obedience and willingness to heed God's call.

The speaker also expresses gratitude to the volunteers serving on Christmas Eve and prays for the congregation to understand the message meant for them. The sermon series, themed "unboxing" the Christmas story, has explored joy, hope, and truth, and now focuses on the perspectives of the Christmas story, urging an attitude of gratefulness towards the gift of Jesus.

Reflecting on personal experiences, the speaker shares how they were encouraged to become a pastor and how they found confidence in being a child of God. The angel's message to Mary not to fear and the assurance of God's favor are highlighted, along with the distinction between asking questions and questioning God. The speaker reminds the congregation that with God, nothing is impossible.

The speaker concludes by calling for gratitude for the gift of Jesus, urging the congregation to recognize God's grace in every aspect of life and to live in a manner that reflects thankfulness and faithfulness to God. The sermon ends with the story of Simeon, who, despite cultural opposition, remained devout and was rewarded by seeing the salvation prepared by God for all people.

Key Takeaways:

- The Christmas story is a personal narrative that demonstrates God's unwavering love and care for each individual. It is a reminder that God's presence, embodied in Jesus, is a gift that affirms our significance in His eyes. This perspective encourages us to see beyond the festivities and recognize the deep relational aspect of Christmas. [54:02]

- Faith, as exemplified by the shepherds' response to the angel's message, is characterized by immediate action and glorification of God. When confronted with divine revelation or calling, our response should mirror that of the shepherds—prompt and filled with praise, acknowledging the gifts and opportunities God presents to us. [01:09:37]

- True submission to God's will involves relinquishing our own conditions and timelines. Mary's acceptance of the angel's message without stipulations is a testament to the kind of surrender that God desires from us. Our obedience should be marked by a willingness to let God's plans unfold in His timing, not ours. [01:04:46]

- The Christmas story is not just about receiving but also about our attitude towards the gift of Jesus. As we exchange gifts with loved ones, we are called to reflect on the gratitude and reverence we hold for the ultimate gift of salvation that Jesus represents. Our appreciation of this gift should shape our daily lives and interactions. [48:20]

- Simeon's experience in the temple with the baby Jesus underscores the inclusive nature of God's salvation. Jesus came for all, regardless of background or status. This revelation should inspire us to live lives of gratitude and faithfulness, recognizing that we are part of a larger narrative of redemption that extends to all humanity. [01:15:14]

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. **Luke 1:26-38** - The Annunciation to Mary
2. **Luke 2:8-20** - The Shepherds and the Angels
3. **Luke 2:25-32** - Simeon’s Prophecy

#### Observation Questions
1. What was Mary’s initial reaction to the angel Gabriel’s greeting, and how did she respond to his message? ([56:51])
2. How did the shepherds react to the angel’s announcement of Jesus’ birth, and what did they do immediately after? ([01:09:34])
3. What was Simeon waiting for, and how did he respond when he saw Jesus in the temple? ([01:14:44])
4. How does the sermon describe the significance of the shepherds' and Simeon's responses to Jesus' birth? ([01:13:05])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is Mary’s response to the angel’s message considered a model of true submission to God’s will? ([01:04:58])
2. What does the shepherds’ immediate action upon hearing the angel’s message teach us about faith and obedience? ([01:09:34])
3. How does Simeon’s recognition of Jesus as the consolation of Israel reflect the inclusive nature of God’s salvation? ([01:16:43])
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our attitude towards the gift of Jesus should shape our daily lives and interactions? ([51:18])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God calling you to do something. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Mary’s unconditional acceptance of God’s will? ([01:04:58])
2. The shepherds responded immediately to the angel’s message. Is there a calling or prompting from God that you have been hesitant to act on? What steps can you take to respond with the same urgency and faith? ([01:09:34])
3. Simeon remained devout and faithful despite cultural opposition. Are there areas in your life where you feel pressured to conform to societal norms that conflict with your faith? How can you stand firm like Simeon? ([01:16:43])
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of gratitude for the gift of Jesus. How can you cultivate a daily practice of thankfulness that reflects your appreciation for God’s gift? ([51:18])
5. The speaker shared personal experiences of finding confidence in being a child of God. How can you remind yourself of your identity in Christ during challenging times? ([58:26])
6. The Christmas story is about recognizing God’s unwavering love and care for each individual. How can you share this message of hope and love with someone in your life who may be feeling insignificant or unloved? ([55:10])
7. The sermon calls for living in a manner that reflects thankfulness and faithfulness to God. What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate your gratitude for the gift of Jesus in your interactions with others? ([01:20:31])

Day 1: Embracing the Personal Nature of Christmas
God's gift of Jesus is a deeply personal act of love, tailored to each individual's life and circumstances. This gift is not a generic offering but a specific, intentional expression of God's care, demonstrating that each person holds a unique place in His heart. The Christmas story is a reminder that God's presence, through Jesus, is a personal affirmation of our value to Him. [54:02]

Isaiah 43:1 - "But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.'"
Reflection: How does recognizing the personal nature of God's gift change the way you view your relationship with Him?

Day 2: Responding to God with Immediate Faith
The shepherds' immediate response to the angel's announcement exemplifies the kind of faith that glorifies God—a faith that acts without hesitation. This teaches that when God reveals Himself or calls us to action, our response should be swift and filled with joy, acknowledging the blessings and responsibilities He entrusts to us. [01:09:37]

Luke 2:15-16 - "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger."
Reflection: What is one way you can respond with immediate faith to something God is calling you to do today?

Day 3: Surrendering to God's Will Unconditionally
True submission to God's will requires letting go of our own conditions and expectations. Mary's acceptance of the angel's message without reservations exemplifies the surrender God desires. This act of faith invites us to trust in God's timing and plan, allowing His purposes to unfold in our lives without our interference. [01:04:46]

1 Samuel 3:9-10 - "So Eli told Samuel, 'Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening."' So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'"
Reflection: What conditions have you placed on your obedience to God, and how can you begin to let go of them?

Day 4: Gratitude for the Gift of Jesus
The Christmas story invites us to reflect on our gratitude for Jesus, the ultimate gift of salvation. As we give and receive gifts, we are reminded to consider how our lives express thankfulness for what Jesus represents. This season is an opportunity to let our appreciation shape our daily interactions and choices. [48:20]

Colossians 3:15-17 - "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."
Reflection: In what practical ways can you demonstrate your gratitude for the gift of Jesus in your daily life?

Day 5: Living in Light of God's Inclusive Salvation
Simeon's encounter with Jesus in the temple reveals the inclusive nature of God's salvation, which is prepared for all people. This understanding should inspire a life of gratitude and faithfulness, recognizing our role in the broader narrative of redemption. We are called to live in a way that reflects this truth and extends God's grace to others. [01:15:14]

Ephesians 2:14-16 - "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in sharing the message of God's inclusive salvation with someone who may feel excluded or distant from God's love?

What if I just started making a change with this life of mine? It would be limitless.

Well, good morning, Limitless Church. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. We want to welcome you to our church. We're so excited that you're here this morning. If this is your very first time, we want to say welcome. We don't believe that you're here by accident this morning. We don't believe that you're here just by chance. But we believe that God had you to be a part of this service for a very special reason. That there's something that God wants to do in your life, and at Limitless, we're just excited to be a part of that.

We appreciate you being here. We know that it is Christmas Eve and you could have been anywhere, but you decided to be here, and we appreciate that. Limitless, can we make some noise for our visitors this morning? That love is genuine, visitors. You are now family here.

On the seat pocket in front of you, you'll see we have a QR code there. If you could pull your phone out, just point your camera at that code, and you'll see a thing there that says "first time visitors." It's just a couple of questions that we would like to get from you. We love hearing your stories about how you found out about our church, what your experience was here. And we like to pray with you during the week as well. Fill that card out on your way out as you leave here today. We have a Team Limitless table right back here, and we have a gift that we'd like to put in your hands just as a way of saying thank you.

We know how it is to come to a new place, and we're excited that you're here. So we want to put a gift in your hand. So fill out that card, and we'll have a gift for you, and we'll say hi to you in the back after service.

Are we ready to worship God this morning? Would you stand with me and let's pray and set this atmosphere on fire.

Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. Thank you for your word. Thank you for your presence. Thank you for your son. This is the day that you have made. So we make a conscious decision to rejoice and to be glad because we have so much to be grateful for. God, as we prepare to lift your name, as we prepare to worship you, God, we ask that you would inhabit the praises of your people just like you did with Israel. God, you are worthy to be praised. You are why we are here. You are the only thing that matters. If your presence isn't here, nothing matters. So we invite you to move up and down every aisle. Have your way in this place. This is your house. Have your way in Jesus' name. Amen.

Would you worship with us? Merry Christmas, everyone! Excited to see you guys here for second service. First of all, I would like to give a thank you and a special shout-out to our Team Limitless volunteers who are serving this morning. We want to take the time to say thank you. We know that it is Christmas Eve and you've been here since early this morning and that you prepared all week to be here. We appreciate it, and so I wanted to take this opportunity just to say thank you, thank you, thank you for serving us and helping us serve the church this morning.

All right, let's dive into this word. Amen. Heavenly Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for this opportunity to hear from you. Would you speak to us today, Lord? Speak through my vocal cords, think through my mind. God, let us not only hear the words that are coming across the pulpit but what are you saying individually to each and every one of us in Jesus' name. Amen.

So we've been unboxing the Christmas story this week. This week is unboxing the Christmas story. We've been unboxing Christmas in the past couple of weeks. We did our first week where we started unboxing joy, then we unboxed hope, and last week we unboxed truth. This week we're unboxing the story of Christmas.

What I want to do, I'm not going to be before you very long, and this I actually mean it this week, but what I wanted to do is I wanted to go through the three stories of the Christmas story, the three perspectives of the Christmas story, just point out some things that I saw and some things that I wanted to share with you to encourage you as we get into celebrating Christmas tomorrow, as we spend time with our families.

Thinking about this gift, this wonderful gift that we have received, which is Jesus, and what this season is all about, what tomorrow is all about, and this gift that God has given us. I think about how husbands feel towards our wives and parents feel towards our kids as we prepare for tomorrow. We've gotten our gifts together, we've placed them in the right place, we've gone to stores, we've made many unnecessary trips, and we've fought through traffic and battled people, near-death experiences as we're going down the aisles.

We've walked through all of these things. We've done all of this to prepare a gift, a gift that we're excited for the person that we prepared the gift for to receive. We're excited to see the look on our kids' faces when they open the thing that they've asked us for all year long. That's just me, hallelujah!

Oh, we've prepared a gift for our spouse that we thought about and that we've prayed to God that it would be something worthy to present, that they would appreciate and love. We're excited about it. We're excited about that moment to see the reaction and to see how they will receive the gift that we've given them.

How disappointed would we be if, after all of that fighting and near-death experiences, we presented the gift and they saw the gift and they hit you with one of these: "Oh, okay." Right? How disappointed you would be if you prepared it just right, you put it in the right place, and you got the look on your face, and they picked it up and they were like, "Oh, okay," and went on to the next thing.

Or if you were prepared and the kids saw it and they didn't even acknowledge it, just looked at it, pushed it to the side, and kept opening the other gifts. How disappointed we would be. It's not just about the gift that's being given; it's about our attitude towards the receiving of the gift as well.

God gave us a gift. How are we living our lives in a manner that shows how we receive the gift that is Jesus? Is our life reflecting gratefulness toward the gift that he gave us? Have we become that kid? Have we become that person who has the gift, who doesn't even acknowledge the gift, who looks at the gift and moves it to the side to go look for the other gifts?

He sent his son to die for you and I. I know we look at it and it's like, "Oh, this is a great story." Yeah, and a lot of times when we read the story and we're seeing everything that's happening, we kind of get caught up in the fantasy of it all, even though it is reality. We get caught up in the fantasy of it and forget that it is about you.

The reason that he sent his son, Emmanuel, God with us, the reason that God came down to this earth to be with us is for you. So maybe you're in this season and you're like, "You know what? This year hasn't been great," or maybe you've had some strained relationships this year. Maybe the year didn't turn out the way that you wanted it to, and as you look into this next year, you feel disheartened. Maybe you feel a little lonely.

Maybe the enemy's trying to tell you that you don't matter. Maybe the enemy's trying to tell you that no one cares. Let me remind you that God cares so much for you that he put a plan in place over 2,000 years ago because he wanted to be in relationship with you. He orchestrated something so magnanimous over 2,000 years ago with you in mind. He looked down the corridor of time, 2,000 years, and saw you and said, "My son is worth it."

That's how significant you are. That's how significant you are. So please don't look at how you may feel. Don't look at your surroundings or even maybe the situation to tell you your significance, to tell you your worth, or how much someone cares because people are funny, ain't they? People are finicky at best, but God is consistent all throughout time. God is consistent.

That's what the Christmas story shows us: the faithfulness of God, the consistency of God, and the love of God. The love that he has for you, even here today, whether this is your first time stepping foot in the church or you haven't been here since last Christmas, he says, "I'm here for you. I sent my son for you."

This gift—can you imagine? You had a gift for your spouse, you have a gift for your child. Imagine having a gift for the whole world, for eternity.

I'll be on the edge of my seat. I'm already not great at giving gifts anyway. I would rather buy it and immediately give it to whoever it's for, let alone I have to wait until the last minute to get the gifts because I can't handle it myself.

Can you imagine God in heaven? Oh, they're hearing the story, they're hearing the prophecy of the Savior. They've heard about the Messiah. They continued to move it, and they've talked about the Messiah, and they've lived a life waiting to see the Messiah. And God is in heaven like, "Oh, wait till tomorrow! Oh, y'all don't even know!"

So as we look at these stories very quickly, I just want you to think about the way that the gift is being received.

Luke chapter 1, verse 26: "In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, O favored one! The Lord is with you.' But she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be."

She was greatly troubled at it and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. Now, when I'm looking at that, I'm like, "What's wrong with you, Mary? 'Greetings, O favored one!' That's good! The Lord is with you! That's good too! I don't know what's left to discern."

But what I realize is sometimes the thing that God may be calling us may not line up with how we see ourselves. It may not line up with what it looks like. It may not line up with what's going on around us, and so when we hear it, we may not even recognize it.

I remember when my mother-in-law started calling me pastor. All people you hear laughing is my family. "Hey, pastor!" "Mom, please, that's no, no." I remember when Pastor Wiley would ask me, "Hey, brother, have you ever thought about maybe going to school and becoming a pastor?" "No, Pastor Wiley, I've not, and I don't plan on thinking about it, okay? But what I will do is I will happily serve you until the Lord should take you home. I'm fine with this."

I remember when I would do shows, and at the end of every show, some people would come up to me and say, "You spoke so well!" First of all, what I do is music; it's not speaking, okay? You know, in between each song, yes, that's how I was taught. You put the word "so" in case you don't hear it in the music, you'll hear it in the middle. That's just what I do.

"Have you considered preaching?" In the conversation, all right? But people will continue saying that, but because it didn't line up with what I thought my life was going to pan out to be, I had to discern what sort of greeting it was.

Let's keep going. Verse 30: "And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.'" The angel is saying, "Do not be afraid," because he recognizes that there is an opportunity for fear to be here. Even though I have told you all of these things, there are still things surrounding you—situations, circumstances, ideals. There's an opportunity for you to be afraid, even though I am challenging you.

"Do not be afraid in spite of the circumstance, in spite of what it looks like, in spite of what may be happening. Do not be afraid." And then I love what he said after this. He says, "You have found favor with God."

He says, "Let me—the reason that you shouldn't be afraid is because I need to tell you who has your back." Because you forgot. Because you forgot. "You have found favor not with the king, not with your family, not with your job, not with your spouse, not with your friendships. You have found favor with God."

That is a reason to not be afraid. Now, if you say, "Hey, you found favor with a friend," okay, that can't help you at all. But when the sickness is happening, when you don't have the finances to do the things that you need to do, when there are circumstances that you don't know how to make your next move, to be reminded, "Oh, I am a child of God. I have found favor with God. I have all of heaven and earth backing me." Oh, that's why I don't have to be afraid.

"Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Verse 34 says, "And Mary said to the angel, 'How will this be, since I am a virgin?'" So for me, I look at this, and I'm looking at the story that they told before this about Elizabeth, and I say, "You know, she asked a question. Mary asked a question, but they got different results."

Why did they get different results? It's because God is okay with your questions; he's not okay with your questioning. It's different. Mary heard it and said, "Okay, how is this going to happen? Let me tell you something. Yeah, I'm betrothed; that means not fully married. So how is this going to happen?" That's a question, not, "I don't even know if you can do this. How are you going to do this?" That's questioning God.

He says, "I'm okay with your questioning. I'm okay with your questions. The questioning is a problem."

Verse 35: "And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and she is in her sixth month with her who was called barren.'"

Verse 37: "For nothing will be impossible with God." Be reminded, nothing will be impossible with God.

Verse 38 says, "And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.'" That is our response. We got to focus in right here because whether or not we see the fulfillment of what God has called us to, whether or not we see the promises of God—some of y'all got so many words you don't know what to do, and you're trying to figure out why, "Well, when am I going to see it? How am I going to see it?"—that is dependent on your response and your obedience.

She said, "Oh, I am a servant." She acknowledged who she was: "I'm a servant of the Lord." She said, "I am submitted to whatever it is that the will of God says." Then she said, "Let it be to me according to your word."

So I am submitted to your will, and whatever it is that you're saying, I'm with it. You say jump, I'm going to say how high. Let it be unto me.

See, sometimes we get a word from the Lord, and then we want it on conditions. "Oh, you're going to speak to the nations. You're going to preach to a million people? Great! So can we start with my Instagram? Because right now I only got 300 followers. So if we could, you know, could we get the diagram so I could get that up? And then maybe if I could get some social media help with that, and then if I could get a team, and then we could get some money, and then I could..." No, no, no, no, no.

There's no stipulations. God's not panning out each and every step for you. I'm telling you exactly what it is that I want, and your response should be, "Yes, Lord! Whatever it is you want me to do, that's what I will do."

Let it be unto me according to your word.

In verse 38, it says, "And the angel departed from her." So we see Mary. We see that she receives a message from the Lord. She's told about this gift, and we see her response.

Let's look at the shepherds in chapter 2, verse 8: "And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And the angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear."

Verse 10 says, "And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.'"

This is where it all changed. This is where we see why this was such a big deal because it wasn't just, "This will be good news for the Jews." This will be good news for just those who have been perfect. This will be good news for those who've kept all of the laws, who've been in church every Sunday, and who worship and who sing on the worship team and who usher in the usher boy.

He says, "This will be good news for all people."

The birth of Jesus and ultimately the death and resurrection of Jesus broke the barrier and opened the door for the whosoever. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that whosoever believeth in him would not perish but have everlasting life." Whosoever!

He didn't ask for your past. He didn't ask where you were from. He didn't ask for your financial status. He didn't ask what your life was like. He said, "Whosoever!"

This is why it makes such a big deal because the angel said, "This will be good news of great joy for all the people."

Verse 11 says, "For unto you was born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

Verse 13: "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.'"

Verse 15: "When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.'"

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger.

Again, we see the same response from Mary here to the shepherds. The Lord spoke, an angel spoke, and they immediately responded. He said they went with haste to find Mary and Joseph. They said they immediately resolved within themselves. They believed what the angel had said, and they went to move to go see what the angel had said.

This is faith. This is what this life is about being a believer. We get a word from the Lord. We're scriptures. Sometimes you may be sitting here; you might feel the Lord speak to you. What is your response going to be to the gift that he's giving you? The gift of your purpose, the gift of your calling, these gifts that he's giving you. What is your response?

The angels chose to immediately say, "You know what? I got to go see this." Not, "I wonder if that was real." Not, "Well, what if they come another time? Then I'm going to go." No, immediately they chose to move on what the Word of God has said.

Verse 17: "And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child, and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying God and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them."

See, for the shepherds, it was not an ordinary day on the pasture. This was a big deal because these shepherds were from this area. These shepherds were Jews, which means they had already known about the prophecy of the Messiah, about the coming Messiah. They had already known it. They had lived hearing about it, reading about it. It had been passed down to them from generations, talking about the Messiah.

They had lived their life, "Oh, the Messiah is coming! The Messiah is coming! The Messiah is coming!" And in one instant, one fell swoop, they went from hearing about the promise to living in the promise just like that. Everything had changed, and they went and they realized it with their eyes to see the Messiah there, the gift that God has sent, not just to them but to all people.

They made a decision in that moment to respond, and their response was that they chose to give God glory for the gift. They didn't choose to say, "Oh, that was cool." They didn't choose to look for another gift. Maybe behind the horses, maybe there's something else that's coming. No, they chose to thank God for the gift.

They said they returned glorifying God and praising God for what they had heard and what they had seen. Imagine hearing about a Messiah and then seeing that Messiah. Now, granted, it was a little unexpected, but our God is a God of the unexpected, and a few things could be more unexpected than the king of heaven being born in a stable. But that's how our God is.

They chose to glorify and honor God.

In our last story, in Luke 2:25, "Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel."

Now, when I looked up, "What is this? What is this?" Because I think constellation, I think stars, and I was like, "Nope, that's not the same thing." They said that's a constellation, not a consolation. So I said, "Okay."

But the consolation—waiting for the consolation of Israel—and that root word is to console. He was waiting for the person that would come and console or comfort Israel.

And the reason that he was waiting for someone that would console Israel is although this was a great story and a great thing was happening, the time in which it was happening was not great.

At this time, Jews were in fear for their lives. They were being arrested, they were being tortured, they were being murdered. This was not a great period for them. This was the time where a king could make a decree and kill any firstborn son at his request. This was not a great time.

And so Simeon began waiting for the consolation of Israel. But this is what it said: it said that Simeon was found—excuse me, it said Simeon was found devout. He was found faithful. He was found committed in a season, in a time, and in a culture that was anti—that sound familiar?

In a season and a time and in a culture that was anti-Christ, Simeon was found righteous. This word righteous means in right standing. So you mean to tell me that the world was anti-Christ, that they wanted to do anything that was against Christ, but Simeon was found as the one who was standing for Christ even in the time where it was culturally against how he believed?

This is what the Lord has called us to as well.

Verse 26: "And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord."

Verse 27: "And he came in the spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law,"

Verse 28: "He took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 'Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.'"

Simeon saw it as well. Simeon saw that it was bigger than the Jews. He said, "This is going to be a light to people who are even..." This is huge!

Simeon said, "That you have prepared in the presence of all people." Because Jesus came to this earth, and it didn't matter your bloodline. It didn't matter your past. It didn't matter whether you were near him like the Jews or far from him. He came for us all.

This is a gift that he offered to us all and that he offers to us all, whether you make it a habit and you're in church every Sunday or this is your first time sitting in a service. He says, "I came for you."

This is the gift that I had prepared for you over 2,000 years ago. This is it with you in mind.

These three stories, these three perspectives of the birth of Jesus continue to remind us that God is grander and wiser and more mysterious than we could ever imagine. This story is a testament of God's love to us. It's a testament to his goodness.

And I pray that as you're here tomorrow with your families and as you're at home and you're eating, that you would be reminded not just of the gifts that you're given, not just of the gifts that you've prepared, but of the gift that God prepared for you.

That your life would begin to be a reflection of your receiving of the gift. That your life would show your gratefulness. That your life would show that you're not a kid who just acknowledges the gift and just throws it away, but that your life would reflect this thank-you note that says, "God, thank you for sending your son Jesus. Thank you for sacrificing your son on my behalf."

This is what Christmas is all about: the ultimate gift that changed our world forever.

Like the shepherds, like Mary, that you would see this gift, you would receive this gift with gladness. Like the shepherds, that you would acknowledge it and that you would begin telling people about this gift.

And like Simeon, in the culture and in the world and in the time that is completely anti-Christ, you would be found faithful. You would be found righteous and in right standing with him.

This is my prayer for you for this Christmas season and this upcoming year that our lives would just say thank you. Thank you for the gift of Christmas. Thank you for the gift of Jesus.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for this time that we have to remember your gift, to be reminded to not be kids who aren't grateful, but that every day we would wake up grateful for your son Jesus.

That as we open our eyes and as we take our breath, that we would acknowledge that it is not by ourselves that this is happening, but it is only by your grace. That as we observe the blessings that are around us, that we will be reminded of the price that you paid, that you sent your son so that we might have life and life more abundantly.

Thank you for your son Jesus. We praise you in your name.

"God cares so much for you that he put a plan in place over 2,000 years ago because he wanted to be in relationship with you. He orchestrated something so magnanimous with you in mind." [54:02] (Download)

"Please don't look at how you may feel, don't look at your surroundings or even maybe the situation to tell you your significance, your worth, or how much someone cares because people are finicky at best, but God is consistent." [56:10] (Download)

"Sometimes the thing that God may be calling us to may not line up with how we see ourselves, it may not line up with what it looks like, it may not line up with what's going on around us and so when we hear it, we may not even recognize it." [57:49] (Download)

"We don't believe that you're here by accident this morning. We don't believe that you're here just by chance. But we believe that God had you to be a part of this service for a very special reason." [13:23] (Download)

"Whether or not we see the fulfillment of what God has called us to, that is dependent on your response and your obedience. Your response should be 'yes Lord, whatever it is you want me to do, that's what I will do; let it be unto me according to your word.'" [01:06:15] (Download)

"The birth of Jesus and ultimately the death and resurrection of Jesus broke the barrier and it opened the door for the whosoever. He didn't ask for your past, he didn't ask where you were from, he said 'whosoever.' This is why it makes such a big deal." [01:08:03] (Download)

"In spite of the circumstance, in spite of what it looks like, in spite of what may be happening, do not be afraid." [01:01:20] (Download)

"God is okay with your questions; He's not okay with your questioning. It's different. Mary said, 'How is this gonna happen?' That's a question. 'How are you gonna do this?' That's questioning God." [01:02:55] (Download)

"For nothing will be impossible with God. Be reminded, nothing will be impossible with God." [01:02:55] (Download)

"Jesus came to this earth and it didn't matter your bloodline, it didn't matter your past, it didn't matter whether you were near him like the Jews or you're far from him, he came for us all. This is a gift that he offered to us all." [01:17:11] (Download)