God’s message always brings you to a point of decision.

By Greg Sanders

Luke 2:¹⁵ 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.”

When the angels left the shepherds, they had a decision to make. Do we go and see or do we stay and watch these sheep? Abandoning your post, even if they left the sheep with another shepherd, carried some risk for a shepherd. If something happened to those sheep while they were gone they would have some answering to do. They made the decision to go and see and because they decided to obey God’s message to them they discovered His promise.

Christmas is not just a season to observe. Christmas presents a choice to make. Is Jesus really the Messiah? Is He really the Savior? The shepherds did not leave to go see a nativity scene, they left to see a Savior. Every time we come into contact with God’s word we must understand that He is not trying to inform us, but rather transform us. Transformation occurs as we decide to apply His word to our life. These shepherds’ lives were transformed not just because they saw angels. They were transformed because they obeyed the message God delivered through the angels.

What has been your reaction to the good news of Jesus? Have you received the news as only information or have you allowed the good news to drive you to a decision to follow Jesus? Have you decided that the God who could deliver Jesus to this world through a miracle can still do miracles today? He still speaks today. He still works today. But much like the shepherds, it’s those who decide to follow Him who most often see His promises at work.

Today’s Challenge: Don’t settle for just hearing the story of Christmas this year. Allow it to penetrate your heart and decide to respond to God’s message. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. Decide who He is and decide to follow Him. Ask Jesus to speak to you this season and decide to obey Him.

Blessings,

Greg