The Christmas story is literally crammed full of powerful lessons. I encourage you in the days leading up to Christmas to spend time reading the Christmas story (Matthew 1:1 – 2:23, Luke 1:1 – 2:40, John 1:1 – 18). Quiet yourself and everything around you, read through the narrative, and let God teach you some of the compelling lessons. During the weeks before Christmas, I’m blogging about some of those teachings. Here’s the third message:
GOD’S KINGDOM HAS ALWAYS AND WILL ALWAYS PLACE TREMENDOUS VALUE ON THE LEAST, THE LAST AND THE LOST
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. Luke 2:8-9
Who were the first to hear about the Christ child’s birth? Who were the first visitors to see the Savior with their own eyes? The Roman ruler? The wealthy upper class? The religious establishment? Nope. Dudes keeping sheep. Those that were the least in the society of the day. Those that were the last anyone would expect to be the first to witness the birth of the Messiah. Those that were lost in society at the time. God’s kingdom has always and will always place tremendous value on the least, the last and the lost.
Is that where our heart is as well?
Ryan Smallwood
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