Who was the first to hear that God's Son was born?

The news that God had sent HIS Son, Jesus Christ, into the world was first given to 

the most socially unacceptable men of the day. Shepherds were financially poor and

socially excluded. They would not have been welcome in the worship services or Temple.

But God saw their worth, and gave the wonderful news to these "lest of these" first.

How do we treat those on the fringe our polite social circles?
(originally posted 12/25/16)

What kind of God do you serve?

Have you ever wondered what kind of God is God? Moses received an answer to this question in Exodus 6, where God describes Himself as the God who made a promise to be with His people and the God who would keep this promise. One way God demonstrated this was by leading Israel as a pillar of fire. What's your response to a God who wants to be with you?

Everyone...

Sometimes Christianity begins to like an exclusive club for only a specific kind of person. However, the book of Revelation tells us that God is calling people of all sorts to fill His kingdom and be His children (Rev 5:9-10). Can you believe that those who deny you are loved by God are wrong, and accept His love?

What's your reach like?

Christians are not asked to keep the Old Testament law, but are encouraged to live out the kindness and generosity that has been given to them in Jesus Christ. In Matthew 25 Jesus Christ describes this kind of love as and extension of loving Him. Do you reach out with the love of Christ, or do you reach out for sin with the envy and lust of Adam?

Does your Thanksgiving give you away?

Christians rightly set aside a time to be grateful for all that we have (Phil 4:6). During this time, we might examine what things we consider blessings and how they impact our lives. Do the things you are most grateful for represent good gifts from God, or are they our secret idols?

Can you trust him now?

As Christians, we believe that Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice for us in the past and will deliver us from the final judgement in the future. However, we tend to trust him less to care for us in our present circumstances (Romans 5).  Can look past your current situation, to the future and to the past to find faith to trust your savior in the present? 

How long will you believe?

It may seem counter-intuitive to think of an old testament patriarch when considering the topic of faith, but Paul uses Abraham to demonstrate the power of faith in God (Rom 4:19-25). The promise God made to Abraham might seem incredible enough, but consider that the promise was given 20 years before it was kept. Abraham believed God for over 20 years, how long can you believe God?