WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DECEMBER 25, 2021
TOPIC: LIFE LESSONS FROM THE CHRISTMAS STORY
BY T. O. 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! As you celebrate Christmas, there are eleven life lessons of the Christmas story, I want you to consider.
1. Only Jesus can deliver man from sin. Matthew 1:21 clearly states that Jesus shall “save his people from their sin.” 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. God has a 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 the 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; Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:18; ). God’s word shall be fulfilled in your life. Have faith in Him even if its fulfillment doesn’t happen as quickly as you think or desire.
4. Nothing is impossible with God. Do you believe it? 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!
God’s choice and God’s favour go together. 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 an option; they must favour you (Luke 2:52). This season, you’re highly favoured.
Also, God’s choice and God’s blessing go together. 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 NKJV). Please, start confessing this from today: I am blessed in Jesus’ name.
Moreover, God’s choice and divine presence go together. We’re still looking at 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.
6. There is safety in listening to divine leading. 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).
7. 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. Follow with faith and patience those that inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12). God knows when you’re in the right position for your delivery! Be patient.
8. If a manger is all that’s available to you, 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).
If all that’s available is a manger, don’t insist on an inn. 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 7:8a).
9. Some things must happen before some things will happen. The birth of Jesus must be preceded by the birth of John. Therefore, Elizabeth must be pregnant before Mary (Luke 1:35-37).
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.
10. 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 East to locate him and worship him and give 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.
11. 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 will outlive your enemies in Jesus’ name. You will not die before your time (Psalms 118:17; 91:16).
Child of God, your death is not in the hand of anyone if you obey the voice of God. God has a purpose for your life, and only when you’re alive can you fulfill it.
Meditate on these lessons as you celebrate Christmas. Merry Christmas.
TAKE ACTION!
“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).
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son to the world. Holy Spirit, help us to make use of the life lessons from the Christmas story. Help sinners to take advantage of this season to surrender their lives to Jesus and each child of God to commit himself to live a Christ-honouring life.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
  
  
  
  
