Luke 2:8–14 (NLT)

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS WAS A DECREE OF GOD'S WILL - THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE SINFUL AND THEY NEED A SAVIOR. HIS DECREED WILL THAT EVERYONE TURN FROM THEIR SIN WAS MADE WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF JESUS' BIRTH.

1 Timothy 2:3–6 (NLT)

This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

PLACING THE SAVIOR IN A HUMBLE MANGER SYMBOLIZES OUR EMBRACE OF AN ANIMALISTIC NATURE THROUGH SIN. JESUS, THE 'BREAD OF LIFE,' LAYING IN A MANGER IS A POWERFUL SYMBOL THAT GOD IS OFFERING US DELIVERANCE FROM SIN'S CONTROL. BY SITUATING THE SAVIOR WHERE PEOPLE POSITIONED THEMSELVES, IT DECLARES GOD'S WILL THAT HE DESIRES ALL MEN TURN FROM THEIR SIN AND COME BACK TO HIM BY TAKING THE BREAD OF LIFE!

CHRISTMAS IS POWERFUL & NOT JUST CUTE

IT'S MORE THAN SNOW, PEPPERMINT, HALLMARK, AND LIGHTS. IT'S THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF GOD, TURNING OUR SCARLET SINS WHITE AS SNOW, CHANGING OUR SINFUL ODOR TO A RIGHTEOUS SCENT. HE REVEALS HIMSELF AS THE TRUE HALLMARK OF OUR LIVES AND THE SOLE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. IT'S NOT JUST CUTE; IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A POWERFUL FORCE TO CHANGE LIVES.

John 1:9–18 (CSB)

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.,10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.

GOD'S WILL IS CLEAR: TURN FROM SIN, FULLY SUBMIT TO JESUS CHRIST, AND LET THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE YOUR LIFE. SURRENDER TO HIS LEADING ENABLES THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL TO THOSE AROUND YOU. IT'S NOT ABOUT A SPECIFIC PLACE OR ACTION; IT'S ABOUT ALLOWING HIM TO WORK IN YOU AND OFFERING YOUR HANDS TO SERVE WHERE YOU ARE.