The Christmas Thread - Behold His Glory

I am not a planner. It’s probably my biggest flaw. I’m a fly by the seat of my pants kind of guy. Like right now I’m still not entirely done my Christmas shopping. I’m actually thinking about making coupons for Amanda. Will drop everything to clean. one saturday without my phone. Mia will get a drop everything for a board game. Emily is a getting a “Get out of nap free card.”

One of the things about Christmas that is so cool is just how God planned it. Everything is so specific. And he used did it in unusual ways. His ways.

Take where Jesus was born. There was nothing specially about Bethlehem…until Jesus came along.

Micah 5:2 ESV

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Luke 2:1–7 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:4–7 ESV

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Big Idea: Trust in the God who planned for Christmas.

1. God’s Glory Shines in unusual places.

Bethlehem was an unusual place. It wasn’t New York. London, Tokyo, Not Beijing. Not Moscow. But that night, it was the most important village in the entire world.

2. God’s glory shines from unusual things.

A young couple, a stable, some animals. There was nothing special about Christmas except the Baby who was born.

Even the Bible says, that Bethlehem was nothing but a small town. And God is saying, I chose you and that makes you special.

1 Corinthians 1:27 ESV

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

Conclusion: God’s glory can shine in Vallejo. God’s glory can shine through you. Even if you’re messed up. God’s glory can shine from you.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t anything until Jesus. And anything i am no, it’s because of Jesus. The God who planned Christmas has planned out my life. Planned out your life.

But the question is will you trust him.