What is Your Response to the Birth of Jesus?

We had our family Christmas gathering last night, in which we included a birthday cake for Jesus and sang “Happy birthday”. My four-year-old great-granddaughter was thrilled to blow out the candles. Later that evening when her parents were putting her to bed she prayed that Jesus would not forget to go to his birthday party tomorrow. We were happy to hear her response to the birthday celebration for Jesus. She got the message.

Let’s look at the response of the shepherds  After the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, they immediately ran to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the baby was lying in a manger. Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel said about the baby. The people who heard their story were astonished. The shepherds returned to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God.

Mary’s response   Mary quietly treasured all these things in her heart and thought about them often. ₁

Let’s look at the response of the wise men from the east  Later some wise men from the East were guided by a spectacular star came to their house fell down before baby Jesus and worshipped him, bringing expensive gifts with them. ₂ Look for a star of guidance in your own life, and be willing to follow wherever it leads you in 2018.

 Now, what is your response to the birth of Jesus Christ?    Today is Christmas day, the tree will soon come down, and the decorations will be put away for another year. Are you glorifying and praising God for sending his Son into the world to save our sins?

• Are you worshipping the Lord and quietly meditating on His Word?
• Pray that your children and grandchildren’s response to the birth of Christ will be one of glorifying and praising God for the new life he provided.
• Pray they will stand as a symbol of hope in a dark world, adorned with God’s strength and beauty.
• Don’t pack Jesus away with the Christmas decorations until next Christmas.

My prayer is that your response is to grow in your spiritual life so you will be able to be an even greater godly influence in the lives of your grandchildren in 2018. We are living in crucial times; our grandchildren need their grandparents to intentionally pray for them.

By Lillian Penner, Co-director of the prayer ministry of Christian Grandparenting Network. lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net

₁ Taken from Luke 2:15-20 TLB

₂ Matthew 2:11