By Tope Banso
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 New King James Version).
Merry Christmas! Today, we are looking at some significant lessons of Christmas – fourteen of them. Understanding these lessons will make Christmas celebration more meaningful to you.
1. Only Jesus can deliver man from sin. Matthew 1:21 clearly states that Jesus shall “save his people from their sins” Only Jesus can save you from your sins (Acts 4:12; John 3:16-17). Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?
2. There is God’s purpose for everyone to fulfill on earth. According to the angel of the Lord, who spoke to Joseph in Matthew 1:21, the purpose of Jesus’ birth is to save His people from their sins. God has a purpose for your life too. You must begin to find out that purpose if you haven’t yet (John 12:27, 18:37; Jeremiah 1:5).
3. God’s Word shall come to pass, no matter how long. The birth of Jesus was a fulfillment of prophecies of several years, right from the book of Genesis (Genesis 3:15; Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7; Luke 1:67-79; Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 6:18; Numbers 23:19). God’s word shall be fulfilled in your life.
4. Nothing is impossible with God. Do you believe? Who would have thought that a virgin would give birth to a child? But it happened that it might be fulfilled what God had said would happen (Luke 1:34-38; Romans 4:19-22; Hebrews 11:11-12; Matthew 22:29, 19:26, 17:20). Nothing is impossible for God to do in your life.
5. You can’t query God’s choice. Why was it Mary that the angel visited to give birth to Jesus? Was she the only virgin? You can’t query God’s choice. It wasn’t Mary’s fault; she was God’s choice. You’re God’s choice for your assignment; it’s not your fault!
6. With God’s choice comes God’s favour. The angel told Mary, “Rejoice, highly favored one” (Luke 1:28a New King James Version); and again in verse 30, he said, “You have found favor with God” (New King James Version). When God chooses you, you’re favoured. Men don’t have any option; they must favour you (Luke 2:52). This season, “You’re highly favoured.”
7. With God’s choice comes God’s blessing: The angel told Mary, “Blessed are you among women!” (Luke 1:28b New King James Version). She was singled out among women for blessing. Her sister, Elizabeth, also repeated it though she wasn’t there when the angel said so: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42 New King James Version).
Mary also confessed she was blessed, “For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed” (verse 48 New King James Version). Please, start confessing this from today: I am blessed in Jesus’ name.
8. With God’s choice comes divine presence. Still on Luke 1:28, the angel told Mary, “The Lord is with you.” The presence of the Lord in a man’s life makes all the difference. The presence of God, especially in difficult times, is invaluable (Psalms 16:8, 59:10). You shall not lack God’s presence in Jesus’ name.
9. There is safety in listening to divine leading. I wonder what would have happened if Joseph had not been sensitive to divine leading. On four occasions, Joseph was guided by the angel in a dream and on all the occasions he followed divine guidance (Matthew 1:18-24, 2:13-15, 19-21, 22-23). Jesus was preserved because of Joseph’s obedience. Obey divine leading. Stay within the reach of God’s love (Jude 21).
10. There is an appointed time for everything. Luke 2:6 says, “And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born” (New Living Translation). There is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3). The time will come for that thing that God has promised to be born in your life. Be followers of those, who through faith and patience, inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12). God knows when you’re in the right position for your delivery! Be patient.
11. If life offers you a manger, use it. Jesus was born and laid in a manger, because there was no room for Mary and Joseph in the inn (Luke 2:7). Most times in life, you won’t have a perfect condition to do what you want to do (Ecclesiastes 11:4).
You may be looking for an ‘inn’, but God may give you something else. God may provide you a ‘manger’ to lay your ‘baby’; use the ‘manger’. It’s temporary. It’s your small beginning (Zechariah 4:10). It’s part of God’s design. Your end shall be better than your beginning (Ecclesiastes 7:8).
12. Some things must happen before some things will happen. The birth of Jesus must be preceded by the birth of John, hence Elizabeth must be pregnant before Mary (Luke 1:35-37).
Please understand that some things must happen in your life before some things will happen. God has ordered your life and everything in sequence. All you can do is to pray against satanic delay and evil forces that want to stagnate you.
13. Your destiny will make some people happy and will make some people mad. The magi were happy at the birth of Jesus and came from the Far East to locate him and worship him and gave him gifts. But Herod was mad at his birth and tried to kill him (Matthew 2:10-12, 16-18).
Not everybody will be happy about God’s purpose for your life or your divine assignment. But whatever happens, remain focused even if some rejoice with you or at what God is using you for.
14. Sometimes God permits those who want to kill you to die: Herod wanted to kill Jesus, but Jesus outlived him! (Matthew 2:19-20). You shall outlive your enemies in Jesus’ name. You shall not die before your time (Psalms 118:17, 91:16).
Child of God, don’t live in the fear of anyone killing you. Nobody can kill you unless God permits it and if you obey His voice. God has a purpose for your life, and you can only fulfill it when you’re alive.
Conclusion: I believe the LORD has spoken to you. Merry Christmas!
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
PRAYER POINT: Father, thank you for the birth of Jesus to save me from my sins.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For over 250 in-depth and insightful messages by T.O. Banso, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪ Banso heads Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria
cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com
Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523; WhatsApp No: +2349081295947