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Dec 13, 2020

KIDS Christmas Program 2020

KIDS Christmas Program 2020

Speaker: James Gallaher

Category: Sunday Morning

Joseph and Mary - not qualified by the world's standards but were available.

Mary and Joseph being chosen for the Christmas story is remarkable. By the world’s standard, they didn’t have the resources, wisdom, or age. Those tend to be disqualifiers of being chosen for significant things in today’s world. But God chose the insignificant to bring forth something significant. Scripture records that Joseph was a just man and he wanted to do right. Mary hears God’s explanation and responds with, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38

Mary was not qualified but she was available to whatever God was about to do. Do we sometimes write ourselves out of His story? God choses us but we give God excuses why we aren’t the right person or have the wrong resources. God points to something much greater – obedience – a willingness to do what He calls us to.

In the book of Samuel, there was the demise of King Saul. He had wealth and status and some experience but he placed his heart on those things and didn’t follow God. 

In searching for God’s provision in our own lives, we sometimes begin with sacrifice. We want to give God (sacrifice) what really doesn’t mean that much to us to get much more from Him. King Saul was confronted by Samuel saying God honors obedience instead of sacrifice. I Samuel 15:22 Samuel said, “Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice… 

Are we stuck there? Rather than doing what God calls us to, do we try to manipulate things to our benefit? Obedience almost always precedes His provision. Then His provision is waiting as we follow His leading. Obey and then we’ll find His provision.

Most times, we reverse it – asking for provision before obeying. We say to God things like…If You would give me this, then I would do this. Obedience requires faith. Obedience requires that we trust instead of understand. Understanding is not a part of the equation to gaining what God has for us.

God promises that He will give us a peace beyond our understanding. Do we tend to wait for understanding first? Or to have peace first? The obedient will experience provision, peace, and joy. And it has nothing to do with our wisdom, possessions, or status but everything to do what God has called us to do.

The Bible describes this experience of Mary and Joseph as not a one-time experience. It was a pattern in their life – they had obeyed over and over. Mary and Joseph didn’t have possessions by the world’s standards but they had been obedient to the simple things that God put in front of them.

What are our areas of obedience that God is calling us to today? What are our insignificant things that He wants to use? There are many great men of the Bible. For example, God spoke to 80-year-old Moses in a burning bush; David was seated as King many years after being anointed King as a child.

What are some steps of obedience that God calls us to? To love kids better? To love first in our marriage? To give more of our time to what God is bringing about? Saying yes to allowing God to lead into new areas? We don’t have to wait to have significance to do significant things for eternity. It’s Mary and Joseph’s faithfulness that gives testimony to this birth of a baby.

Are we willing to say yes to insignificant things so that God might do something significant in our lives?

Take the first step…John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. The first act is to surrender the control of our lives to Christ’s leading. Christ paid for our sins on the cross and offered us a place in eternity with Him. The baby in a manger, Jesus, was the Savior that went to the cross for us, rose 3 days later with our victory in hand. All we need to do is confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and He will save us for eternal life.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I believe You are the Son of God. I believe that on that cross You took my guilt, my sin, and my shame and You died for it. You faced hell for me, so I wouldn't have to. And You rose again to give me a place in Heaven, a purpose on Earth, and a relationship with Your Father. Today, Lord Jesus, I turn from my sins to be born again. And now, God is my father, Jesus is my Savior, The Holy Spirit is my helper. And Heaven is my home. Amen.

How do you sometimes write yourself out of God’s story or His direction?

Explain how God’s provision almost always follows obedience (not the other way around).

How do you want to change the pattern of your life to follow Joseph and Mary’s example?