As, we end one season of celebration, adoration and praise of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and prepare ourselves for another season of celebration. We can continue to receive gifts from Christmas all year around. I’m not talking about tangible gifts. I’m talking about spiritual gifts. Wrapped up in the blessed Christmas story of the birth of Jesus Christ are many spiritual gifts one of which is an awe inspired spiritual gift, the gift of obedience to our Father in Heaven.
The consequence for the Virgin Mary, an unwed, engaged and pregnant girl, under Jewish law during the reign of King Herod I, could have been death. At the very least, Mary could have been shunned and rejected by her village, family and left, with child on her on. Forsaking the world and its consequences, she humbly received and went about obediently preparing for what was told to her by an angel of the Lord. Her fearless and faith filled obedience opened the door for our Savior, to enter and live in the world. (Luke 1:27-45)
After Joseph was informed that Mary, the women he was engaged to marry, was with child, he had planned to be a gentleman and divorce her quietly. Once instructed by an angel of the Lord, of the plans for the baby in Mary’s womb, Joseph bravely and honorably obeyed God step by step. His prompt and dutiful obedience secured and protected our Savior as he entered and lived in the world. (Matthew 1: 18-25, 2:13-23)
Upon seeing and approaching the sign in the sky for the long awaited, King of the Jews, the Magi found what they had long sought out, the precious baby Jesus, our Messiah. They delivered their gifts and righteously obeyed the warning from God not return to Herod I. Their obedience insured safety and provision for our Lord and Savior. (Matthew 2:1-12)
Hearing from the angel of the Lord, witnessing the heavenly hosts and learning that the Messiah had been born; the shepherds went out to gaze upon such a glorious occasion. They obeyed the angel of the Lord, which told them “to not be afraid”. They went to behold the Messiah and spread the word of all that they had witnessed and heard. The shepherds’ courageous obedience gave witness to our Savior and glory and praise to our Heavenly Father. (Luke 2:8-20)
These remarkable and dutiful steps of obedience paved the road for the greatest gift to mankind, Jesus Christ. It is in the telling of these seemingly ordinary people, where we can walk in their footsteps and decisions for the moments leading up to their extraordinary obedience. It is here, that we unravel and share in the gift of their obedience, in our own lives each and every day.
You may think your obedience to God only affects you and your walk with God. This generally is not the case. Many times God can disrupt our complacency, with the tasks that he has fashioned us for. During that time we can mistakenly get super focused on our own journey to obedience and overlook the gift that our obedience brings to others and the body of Christ.
Our reaction to obey God should be immediate. We must lean and trust that God will give us the grace, courage, wisdom, and anything else we need to fulfill his calling on our lives. When we humbly and expectantly obey God, we mirror the responses of the Saints and our Savior. If you are struggling with being obedient to God or you are procrastinating, hesitating or negotiating with God about what he has called you to do. Know that your obedience no matter how small makes a difference to you, your family and the entire Body of Christ. So give a gift that keeps on giving, the gift of obedience!
