Christmas Devotion 12/22/24: Let Your Attitude Reflect the Birth of Christ

Intro

Who is ready for Wednesday?! I know I am. I love Christmas. I love the presents, the family, the food … it is just fun!

And, I am not going to stand up here tonight and preach to you about how Christmas is about more than presents, you know that. You know that Christmas is about the birth of our Savior. You know about Jesus and what Jesus can do for you. And you know that everything we love about Christmas pales in comparison to what our Savior, Christ Jesus, does for us.

Is it wrong to enjoy presents, family, and food? Of course not! But, often we let Christmas shape certain attitudes and behaviors in us as we anticipate. We act extra good so those really good presents find their way under the tree. We are excited. We love on people more. Our attitudes change during the holidays, especially Christmas.

But, have you ever found your attitude changing at Christmas time simply due to the gravity of what it means biblically? Have you ever changed your motives because you stopped and remember what Jesus did for you? Has the birth of Christ ever altered your attitude for the better simply due to a recognition of the sacrifice of Jesus?

Maybe it has. Maybe you have stood in awe when you remember what Jesus did. Maybe you dropped to your knees praising the Savior!

And if not, maybe you should.

Our attitudes ought to reflect what Jesus did for us. We ought to see the birth of Jesus as a reason to celebrate our freedom, and our attitudes will naturally change to adapt.

We see in Scripture the attitudes of many change because of the birth of Christ, and we aren’t going to go through and talk about each of those, but, how should our attitudes, like those in the first century, change simply because Jesus was born?

Joy

John the Baptist

Luke 1:39–44 (KJV 1900)

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

Mary, already pregnant with Jesus, goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant. Mary, in shock and excitement wanted to tell someone! As she arrives to her cousins house and begins to speak, Elizabeths child does something odd!

Elizabeth’s child, soon to be revealed as John the Baptist, also sent from God, knew that the woman carrying his Savior has come near and he leaped with joy immediately! The Holy Spirit came down and filled Elizabeth and she blessed Mary.

Joy is a natural response to the coming of the Messiah. So much so, that even the unborn John the Baptist was overcome with joy.

Are you joyful for what Christ has come to do? Are you joyful for the birth of Christ?

Thankfulness

The Shepherds

Luke 2:15–20 “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

An angel just appeared unto a group of shepherds as they watched their flock and told them something they never expected to hear: A baby, God Himself, has been born in Bethlehem. He has come to bring salvation to all, go and see.” You see, the shepherds likely weren't educated in the Law of Moses or the customs of the Jews, but still, when an angel appears to you, and then a whole host of angels appear singing “glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased,” you’ll likely do what those angels tell you to do.

The Shepherds listened and went and found Jesus just as the angels told them. They saw Jesus as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in that feeding trough and they knew before many that this is indeed God Himself come to save us — and they were thankful.

The Scriptures tell us that they went away glorifying and praising God. For they were thankful that salvation had come to them, the least of these.

God didn’t send the angel to a Pharisee or a Scribe. The Wise Men didn’t even make it until Jesus was a toddler! No, He sent that angel to the least of those, the lowly shepherds who were not well known and likely looked down upon and they were some of the first to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

And tonight, this message has been given to you, the least of those, so you can know: Salvation has come for you!

So, let your attitude reflect thankfulness for Jesus has come!

Repentance

Mary Magdalene

John 8:1–11 (KJV 1900)

Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Jesus, now in His 30’s and early in His three year ministry comes across a scene, picture it with me: Jesus arrives at the Temple early in the morning to teach the Gospel and the Scribes and Pharisees bring unto Him a woman caught in the act of adultery and they call on Jesus to give them permission to stone her! But, Jesus didn’t. Rather, he offered truth and grace upon grace. He challenged those standing around her: If you are without any sin, feel free to cast a stone.

You know, Jesus could have rightfully cast the first stone, because He was sinless… and the only one in that group who was sinless. Rather, Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dirt, we are unsure as to what he was writing, but nonetheless was waiting for the Jews to make their move, but they didn’t… one by one, they left and it was just Jesus and, who we think was, Mary Magdalene (one of Christ’s most faithful followers from then on out).

What amazes me was Jesus’ response from there. He didn’t scold, He didn’t even correct her (for she knew that what she had done was wrong). No, rather, Jesus lifted Himself up and said “Where are your accusers? Has no one stoned you? when she replied “no, Lord” Jesus said “Neither do I, go and sin no more.”

The birth of Christ is a serious call for repentance.

Our attitudes should reflect repentance as we look to Christ for our source of life and salvation.

This is why Jesus came, to bring easy repentance to all who believed and called on the name of the Lord. This was the call 2,000 years ago and this is the call today: repent!

Repentance is for you. See it. Believe it. Accept it. Let your attitude reflect it.

*Salvation plea*

Pray.