“What if you were known for your biggest mistake”?
Luke 2:1-6
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.
Jesus was born into the most powerful, corrupt government in the history of the world. No one had ever been more powerful than Augustus Caesar. And even though Jesus is the only person in the world with more power and authority than Caesar, he chooses to enter the world in the poorest fashion.
Imagine if you were the Inn Keeper that didn’t give a room to Jesus? Imagine if that’s what you went down in history for – the guy who booted Jesus to the stable.
For the first time in the history of the world, God was among us. But the Inn Keeper had no idea. He looked right past Him. He didn’t need His business. Business was good. he was booked up and didn’t have the time or space for Jesus.
“How many of us haven’t made the room for Jesus in our hearts in lives? We are too busy or too booked for Him. Or maybe life is good so why would I need Jesus”.
Luke 2:8-20
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
“Following Jesus is always a call to action. It’s not just a fuzzy feeling so we can feel better about ourselves. God calls us to send us. He rescues us so that we can rescue others.”
APPLICATION:
We either to respond to Jesus as an Inn Keeper or a Shepherd. We either tell Jesus, ‘ No I don’t need anything from you’. Or we say ‘Yes, but I don’t have anything to offer you’>
Following God is always a call to go. God calls you so he can send you out.
What do you need to offer God?