He Uplifts the Humble

I believe with all my heart that God wants to do great things in your life—yes, you! God is not looking for people with great intelligence, status, connections, or wealth. He’s not looking for you to measure up. You don’t have to try to impress God; He’s not impressed. In fact, all the intelligence and riches of the world are His, and He has bestowed them according to His glorious purposes (see Job 41:11; Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalm 24:1; Colossians 1:16). He created you, and He loves you.

THE EXTENT OF HIS LOVE

No matter how many times you feel that you have failed God and sinned against Him, no matter the weight of the guilt you are carrying, God wants to redeem you. All He requires is a surrendered life. That is why Christ can be born in any heart, regardless of the depths of that soul’s sin and rebellion. The one who was born in a manger can be born in the lowest of hearts today. The circumstances of His birth declare His love and care for you.

In the first century B.C., while the world was bowing to Caesar, God showed up in the smallest of villages. At a time when Caesar was in the height of power, God appeared as a mere baby. While Caesar was the richest man in the world, the owner of the universe laid aside His glory to become poor and oppressed. While Caesar slept in a golden bed, our Savior had nowhere to lay His head. And yet, there is no greater name than the name of Jesus. Though 100 percent man, He never ceased to be 100 percent God. That’s why there’s no greater glory than the glory of Jesus, and there’s no greater story than the story of Jesus. The whole world slows down—stops—to listen to His story in this season.

THE STORY OF THE GOSPEL

The God of the universe humbled Himself, becoming a man (see Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, was not born in Caesar’s mansion. He wasn’t born to Herod’s court. He was born in Bethlehem, the humblest of towns. He was born a helpless baby to a poor, young virgin and, at birth, was laid in a bed of straw surrounded by the sounds and the smells of animals. His humble arrival proclaims His willingness to enter any life—any heart—that will invite Him in today. He is willing to be born spiritually in you. Today, through faith in the child of Bethlehem, the humble will be exalted. Through faith in the child of Bethlehem, everyone who surrenders to Him will surely live forever with Him in heaven.

It’s no accident that you are reading this message today. He wants you to hear His Truth and the wonder of His love today—whether it’s for the first time or the millionth time. And I pray you never tire of this message of hope. Jesus was born supernaturally, miraculously to the virgin Mary. He couldn’t have had an earthly father; otherwise, He would have been born with original sin, enslaved to sin like all of us. Rather, He was born of the Holy Spirit, born perfect in order to redeem imperfect people.

YOUR RESPONSE TO HIS COMING

What does this child of Bethlehem mean to you today? Jesus came from heaven to earth on a mission: “[T]he Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). And that is why His mission, which began in Bethlehem, took Him all the way to the cross where He poured out His blood and died in our place as the perfect atonement for all the sin of the world. He became nothing in order to give you everything (see Philippians 2:7-9, 4:19; Romans 8:32; 2 Peter 1:3-4; Matthew 6:33). Today, rest in the one who is Himself eternal life. Live for Him. Share His Gospel. There’s no greater calling, no greater purpose, no greater joy.