How Will You Respond To Him? (A Christmas Devotional)
By: Kristen L. McNulty
Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.
In the events leading up to and including Jesus' birth, there was a wide variety of reactions to the news of the coming King and to the announcement of His arrival. Which leads to the question, how have we or how will we respond to Jesus?
Will we, like the wisemen, be willing to disrupt our lives for the sake of the newborn King?
Will we, like the Shepherds, be willing to leave our livelihoods to meet Him and worship Him?
Will we, like Mary and Joseph, be so sold out to God that we are willing to do anything and go anywhere to fulfill the plan God has for our lives?
Will we, like Simeon, have the faith to wait on God? And to recognize Him when we encounter Him?
Will we, like Anna, be so changed by our encounter with Jesus that we spend our days telling others about Him?
Or on the flip side, will we, like Herod, after hearing about Jesus act like we’re on board to the outside world, all while trying desperately to pretend He doesn’t exist and destroy any reminder of the King?
Or will we, like the majority of people in Bethlehem at that time, ignore the miracle that is taking place down the street? And be so caught up in our own lives that we miss out on the miraculous and settle for life without Him?
The Choice Is Ours
As the story of Jesus’ birth in the Bible shows us, there are many different ways we can react and respond to His existence and the choice is ours. We can choose to worship Him like the shepherds or follow Him like the wisemen. Or we can choose to ignore Him like the citizens of Bethlehem or try to destroy Him like Herod. God has left the choice with how we respond to Jesus up to us and our choice has far reaching implications.
Because Jesus changes everything. As Jesus' arrival is described in Luke 1:78-79:
"Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace." Luke 1:78-79
And then in John 1:4-5 it says:
"The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:4-5
The Gift That Is Jesus
Jesus takes a life that is drifting and gives it purpose. He takes circumstances that are dark and introduces His light. He gives strength to the weak and joy to the burdened. He brings peace to those weighed down in chaos. And above all, He is the bridge between God and man and the only way to close the distance between ourselves and our Holy God.
So how will you respond to Him? The Bible tells us the right response to Jesus is to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). It sounds simple but it is the truth. He doesn’t force Himself on us, but for those who choose to seek Him, He not only gives eternal life after this one is over, but He is literally Emmanuel God with us, who helps us to walk through this life and anything we face, we don’t face alone. What an incredible gift we have been given and it’s one I hope and pray you accept this Christmas.
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