The Call of Christmas (5)

Your Are Being Called

One of the biggest lies about Christianity is that Christ looks to control ones life and take away their freedom.

Truth: Christ was born, fought for, and died for you to keep your freedom.

Jesus lived and died to protect your ability to be uniquely you. So that you have a free will and a choice. Following Christ doesn’t take away the choice, it doesn’t add or remove consequences of your choices, it liberates you to be defined in the light that you were originally created.

You have the power to choose who you surrender too. God gave us free will. That’s part of the power of Christmas. In

You are either freed in Christ or your are enslaved to sin.

This freedom allows you to walk in your call or reject your call. You have the decision to make.

So what is your call?

It’s not just to tell people about Jesus. It’s not just to get people to church. Your call is centered around

Make Disciples

Here’s the beauty of it all.

You can take any job, any situation, and any moment and infuse it with purpose by walking out you call. God will never force you to make disciples, but you have this higher call in your life. You have purpose in your life.

I tell my kids all the time you can take the easy way or the hard way, but the easy way isn’t as fruitful.

Matthew 2:1–8 ESV

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

It’s been interesting because my family does devotionals every morning in the car on the way to church when Beth doesn’t sub at school because I can’t drive and read. We are currently doing a Christmas series and it’s been cool because I’ve been researching all of this stuff so my kids have insight into this story that other people may not, but no matter how much I have read the story Verse 3 didn’t pop out until my wife pointed it out

Matthew 2:3 ESV

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

Why was everyone grieved. And then it hit me.

Nothing is more dangerous than religious people armed with scripture.

It’s the religious that tried to kill Jesus when he was a child. It’s the religious who tried to trap Jesus while he was on mission. It’s the religious that crucified him, but it’s also the religious that lost the battle when Jesus, through his sacrifice opened himself to a relationship with everyone.

You have the equivalent of today’s pastors-the religious scholars who, out of fear, showed Herod where Jesus was to be killed.

But in this lies our choice, we can step up to our calling that Jesus laid on our life or we can join the religious elite and make Jesus’ sacrifice fruitless.

The Wise men on the other hand showed what it was to count the cost and heed the call.

Matthew 2:12 ESV

12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

This would have put a death mark on their heads. They defied Herod. The guy who is bent on killing all the children surely wouldn’t let these wisemen get away scot free. They took the risk upon themselves. Following God takes risks. WE know spreading Jesus and telling our loved ones about Jesus may kill relationships. May make people we love back away from us. But what I learned is that God always rewards us with greater things. If he calls me away from a job- there is better provision in the future. IF calls me to give a large financial gift— he always provides and my bills are paid. If he calls me to walk according to his word and people come against me he always puts new people in my corner.

The call of God will always advance you in some way. It will always grow you. It will always challenge you.

People with a true relationship with God are dangerous with scripture.