His Birth part 2 - Celebrate His Free Gift, Don't Bicker Over It

 ake us feel we’re not special. He does this sneakily, too. And, it’s something you can combat by loving others and sharing His love.

This is easy when you look at the Christmas story. Who did God send angels to tell that Jesus was born? Shepherds, of course. (The Wise Men had Daniel’s prophecy from centuries earlier to tell them what the Star was and that it would guide them.) You could argue God knew Herod was evil, and the Roman emperor wouldn’t care. (Scribes in Matthew 2 didn’t care to go to worship Him either.) Shepherds were looked down on by everyone, though. There were plenty of other people, even if it wasn’t the leaders, wo He could have had the angels tell. But, He had the shepherds here and then tell everyone.

Look at Mary, too. Marriage was more common that early back then, but it was still very hard for her. After Jesus’ birth, she and Joseph had 4 boys and at least 2 girls normally, as Mark 6:3, the end of Mat. 12, Acts 1:14, and likely the “brethren” in John 7 show. shows. Only Jesus was born of a virgin. (Some Catholics teach Mary was always a virgin, because they don’t know the Bible; this is why it’s important to read to know the truth.) But she may have had lots of people whispering about how she had a baby “out of wedock.”

What some Catholics do with Mary is an example of how the devil tries to twist things. Mary herself gives on command in the Bible – in John 2 she tells people at the wedding in Cana to do whatever Jesus says to do.

Mary, then, was a kind, loving servant who followed the Lord, and knew she needed Him to save her from her sins. She rejoiced in her Saviour.(John 1:47)  That’s what we shold try to be - like the Lone Ranger, not needing thanks, just glad to serve.

Our rewards come in Heaven. We should work on those because nothing can take them away. Part of that is knowing to treat others with love no matter where they are in life, showing respect for them as God’s creations.

This also means ignoring petty arguments. We used to be concnered because kids from different parts of town were in the same club, and that feuds could come from that. But, a prayer update I get just had a note about fishing rights arguments in a tribal church. Half the members are in Colombia, half in Brazil – yes, different counties. Pray for Guanano church members to recall they are to be one in Christ and not fight over things, not think one group is better or more deserving of fishing rights or any worldly things.

Look at the end of Matt. 25. Jesus tells a parable about sheep and goat nations. The main purpose is to tell about rewards for those who help His people, the Jews. Yet there is a lesson for us, too. Jesus calls us to see the hurting and address their needs. Notice how the goat nations don’t even see the need. They don’t say “when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee to drink,” etc.. They say “When did we see thee hungry or thirsty or… and not minister unto thee. They don’t even see what need is there. As Jesus says, “That which ye do to the least of these, ye do also to me.”

This is just about rewards in Heaven, though. Salvation is “By grace through faith…not of works, lest any man should boast.”(Eph. 2:8-9) Verse 10 says we’re His workmanship so we will do good works, but those works are simply so we can earn blessins and rewards, but also show who He is through our love for others.