The calling that we receive from God on the mountaintop must be lived out down in the valley of “real life”. When you have to come back to reality, be sure to follow the example of Jesus’s parents after the First Christmas.
To Know Him and Make Him Known
Christmas
Before jumping into a relationship with God, it’s important to know how hope “works.” While God’s promises won’t be fulfilled until some future time, God always gives a “down payment” for us to enjoy while we wait, proving that we can trust Him to keep His promises.
If you have a sneaking suspicion that Christmas HAS to mean more than what our culture is telling you, you’re not the first – but you will have to go on a quest for answers. As you do, I advise you to follow the example of the first “Christmas Chasers” – the wise men.
The secret ingredient that made the first Christmas possible was SUBMISSION to the Father’s plan. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph all chose to exchange their own ways for the ways of the God they trusted in order to bring about a noble goal.”
The First Christmas was birthed out of the love between the Father and the Son before the world was made, a love which crafted a plan designed to give us the greatest possible gift.