Merry Christmas! We have been looking at how God speaks at Christmas. First, He prepared for the event. The Lord spoke to the prophets hundreds of years before Jesus was born. They foretold what Jesus would do and where He would be born. Then, God sent the angel, Gabriel, to tell Zechariah he would father John the Baptist, who would be the forerunner of Jesus. Gabriel then told Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus.
Elizabeth knew Mary was the mother of the Messiah by a divine message. John jumped with joy in the womb when Mary and the fetal Jesus entered Elizabeth’s home. Then, an angel told Joseph the truth about Mary’s pregnancy, and Joseph married Mary despite the social stigma. So, we can see how God spoke supernaturally in many areas to prepare for the birth of Jesus.
God Speaks in the Christmas Story
While the Christmas story is familiar, we don’t necessarily think of God speaking through it, but He does. First, God moved a pagan Roman ruler to call for a census. Luke 2:1 At that time, the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire… Joseph had to go to Bethlehem in Judea. [1] That put Mary and Joseph in the proper town for Jesus to be born.
Luke 2: 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.[2] There was no room in the inn, which foreshadowed the rejection Jesus would face in His ministry.
The angels of heaven were allowed to announce the birth of Messiah to the shepherds. Luke 2: 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God.[3] These shepherds were probably raising lambs for sacrifice at the Temple. Jesus would be the ultimate sacrifice that would pay the price for our sin.
As the shepherds returned to their fields, they told everyone what they had just experienced. Luke 2: 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.[4] God spoke through them to let the people know something special had just happened. Then Mary pondered all these things in her heart. We, too, need to consider what God has done for us. Time with God gives Him a chance to speak to us.
God Continues to Speak to Us Today
The most common way God speaks is through His Word. Although, God doesn’t always use words to give messages to us. But He can also use our conscience, feelings, circumstances, angels, dreams, and visions. There is a discernment that the Holy Spirit can provide as we listen for God to speak. Any messages must always align with Scripture.
What is God saying to you this Christmas season? Obviously, God continues to speak through the words and actions of Jesus. If Jesus is not the Lord of your life, God desires you to ask for this. Jesus is the ultimate Christmas present.
To learn how God speaks at Christmas, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/a-dream-reveals-the-truth
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.