Christmas: Can I really understand what God is saying?

One of the most entertaining phenomenon’s I have witnessed…and even done…is when someone is trying to communicate to someone that speaks a different language. In their desire to connect, many times they speak very slow and very loud. The speed we all understand, but the volume makes no sense. They don’t understand…they are not deaf! I remember seeing one person putting their hands over their ears as the man trying to help give them directions was at a decibel 9! 

Christmas is about many things, God’s love, God’s sacrifice, God’s commitment to relationship with His Creation…and it is also about communication. God communicated in the most intimate and direct way anyone could. The message of Christmas carries so much in it, volumes have been written on it. “God’s ways are not our ways,” “Incarnation,” “a baby in a manger, with shepherds and animals,” “the Son of God…the God-man, growing and learning,” “emptying self of all rights and full submission,” the list could go on for a endless time.

The perfect communication is Christmas. God in a way that just boggles my mind communicated His message to mankind in a perfect way. Not in mere words. Not in miraculous signs…but in a Person!

Hebrews 1:1-2 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

John 3:16 God so loved!

Christmas is not: a system of beliefs, a warm and fuzzy feeling, a social requirement, or a 1 day cease fire, after which you can shoot someone again. An Infinite God, beyond our comprehension, became flesh…in order that we would have the choice to live forever with Him.

Clear communication most times requires actions that follow.

I never had a green thumb. I enjoy looking at flowers, but to me they were a waste of money because all they ever do is die! When I was a young husband the Holy Spirit taught me a lesson on communicating love to my wife. She loves flowers. One day I was wishing I could show her how much I loved her. She knew that I thought money spent on flowers was a waste. God's Spirit prompted me to buy her a rose - "grudgingly" I did. I snuck it in the house and gave it to her...then I did that every Friday for a year. The message came in loud and clear to her, and all it took was a flower! 

God spoke much louder and with the ultimate sacrifice!

However, we must remember there are 2 dynamics to communication: Sending and Receiving. God took care of the sending portion…the receiving is up to us! This is where we need to seriously focus on our own heart and ears. What are we hearing…more importantly, what are we willing to hear? Let’s look at a great example to encourage us to listen with an open heart this Christmas.

Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel"--which means, "God with us." When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Joseph chose to receive what God said through “faith.” He believed God! What does in mean to believe? Believe: To remain steadfast; to be persuaded; to adhere to, rely on

True faith is based on Who you know…not What you know! Joseph could not comprehend all that was happening, nor did he possess all the facts. This is where we discover real Faith. Too many think you have to understand it all before you believe and obey. How can the “finite” ever fully understand the “Infinite?” Scripture teaches us to act on what has been revealed, leave the details to God. Like Abraham, Joseph took his eyes off the circumstances, off of himself, and looked straight to God.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Romans 4:19-21 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.

Both Abraham and Joseph based what they did on what HE said!

Consider Judas…talk about a guy who had the facts! Yet, he kept his eyes on what he thought was happening, what he was willing to believe and what he wanted. The issue is never anything else but YOU!

When we receive what an Infinite Person (God) sends, it is not based on what we feel…Joseph knew this was not his son, he must have been confused because no prophet had fully understood how the Messiah would come. Joseph also teaches us that “outcome” was not a factor. Would he be considered a sinner that had sex with Mary before the wedding? What would happen to his reputation, his business? Joseph did not allow his expectations dictate his decisions. God’s idea of success is far from the world’s! Faith yields to His will and vision, not our own will.

Here is the key benefit of the example of faith Joseph gave us: We may not know where we are going or how we are going to get there…Bethlehem?...but we know who we are! A person that believes God is in our lives and has a purpose and a plan for us! Wherever you find yourself this Christmas…don’t give into circumstances, emotions or pressure from the world. Choose to receive what God is sending you, trust Him and follow the example of Joseph:

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him”

The so what: What is going on in your life right now? What do you believe God is saying through that? How are you receiving it? If you do not understand his leading, what should you do? Do you believe God really loves you? What communication are you sending back to Him?