Christmas Devotional – 2011

I realize this is late but I was busy. Besides, this is my blog and I have no deadlines. Enjoy.


During the holiday season we often think about family gatherings, shopping for gifts, and spending some time at church. While at church, we’re reminded of the “reason for the season,” namely, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. During this time of year, what’s often overlooked in the birth of Christ is the “virgin” part. We could talk historically of how it was difficult for Mary and Joseph to reconcile this difficult concept or how fellow villagers would’ve started gossiping about the idea of a “virgin” becoming pregnant. Those things are clearly important to have us understand the setting of the narrative, historically speaking. But I want to focus on the bigger theological picture of what “The virgin birth of Christ” means to us today.

It was impossible for a woman to become pregnant without sexual intercourse. During the time of Mary and Joseph they didn’t have artificial insemination. This clearly was an act of God. “The virgin birth of Christ is an unmistakable reminder that salvation can never come through human effort, but must be the work of God himself.” The virgin birth was a symbol of God’s plan for salvation.

“But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal. 4:4-5).

If we go back even further to the Old Testament in the days of Micah the prophet:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. When the Assyrian invades our land and marches through our fortresses, we will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men. – Micah 5:2-4 (NIV)

“The point of verse 2 is Bethlehem is small. God chooses something small, quiet, out of the way and does something there that changes the course of history and eternity.” The reason is that man cannot boast in his personal merits but only in the glorious mercy of God. Furthermore, Micah contrasts little Bethlehem with the greatness of the Messiah in order to magnify God’s glory. So then, not only is the “virgin birth” of Christ impossible for man but the Lord makes the point of choosing the place, which man cannot boast of as well.

This is not the only time He does this in scripture. The Lord chooses “the elder to serve the younger” (Rom. 9:12). He chooses not a great warrior to defeat Goliath but a boy, David, who was also from Bethlehem. Does the boy choose a sword or a great hammer? No. He chooses a slingshot.

Understanding that everything is from God’s sovereign grace it would be silly of us to boast in any of our own merits. The implications of God’s sovereign grace are two-fold. First, as we’ve already mentioned, we must throw ourselves at the glorious mercy of God. By throwing ourselves at the mercies of God we are not boasting in ourselves but in the Lord. We know the merits have been given to us as a free gift.

27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. – Romans 3:27-28 (NASB)

So what happens to human boasting? A transformation takes place, which leads to human boasting, turning into gratitude and praise towards the Lord. This is worship, not with song only but also with our lives as well.

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. – Romans 12:1 (NASB)

The second implication of God’s sovereign grace through the virgin birth of Christ is that the Lord keeps his promises. Throughout the OT the Lord promised hope in the form of the coming Messiah. He kept that promise and fulfilled it through His Son Jesus Christ.

12 When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure before [c]Me forever; your throne shall be established forever. – 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (NASB)

This promise was given before the fall and exile of Judah. Micah knew of this promise and yet, he saw his people reject it and fall into exile. You can tell how firmly someone believes God’s promise by whether it gives him strength and hope when life caves in around him. Micah never lost hope. He knew God would keep His promise.

Clearly, the promises of God do not guarantee us freedom from physical harm in this life. But the Lord does promise for all who believe in Him ultimate salvation, which is salvation in the end. This ought to give us hope and strength for today as we seek out God’s glory and not our own. For He keeps His promises.

Let goods and kindred go,

This mortal life also;

The body they may kill:

God’s truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever.