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"Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child."
(Luke 2:17)
On Sunday at our home church, Great Hills in Austin, TX, we will start a new Christmas series titled "Flip the Script". I will begin the series with a message based on Luke 2:8-20. It is my favorite Christmas narrative. God sent His Son to earth to be born of a virgin named Mary. He was placed in a feed trough in an animal stable because there was no room for Him in the inn in Bethlehem. God flipped the script on mankind in doing what He did. He did not come to the powerful and rich; rather, He came to His people and chose those who were humble. Who were the first people to announce the Messiah's birth? What elite group did God choose to make widely known the good news of Jesus' birth? Well, He chose shepherds: very common, hard-working people. I love how God does what He does, and it shocks us, because we would not do it that way. But He is God! We can learn very much by examining the awesome ways of God.
The remainder of the Christmas series of messages will be preached by pastors on our church staff. These godly men are passionate for Christ and the Word of God. I am looking forward to them sharing messages and including some recognized figures like Scrooge, the Grinch, and mean ol' Mr. Potter from It's A Wonderful Life. Our pastors will show clips from movies depicting these famous characters. Most importantly, they will demonstrate from the Scriptures how God is able to flip the script on our lives by taking away a bitter and sinful heart and replacing it with a heart that beats passionately for Him.
If you are near the Austin, TX area, I invite you to come to "Songs and Snow: A Christmas Gathering" at Great Hills Baptist Church on December 12th from 5:30-9:00PM. This will be a fun, festive, and family-friendly event. There will be something for all ages to enjoy as we celebrate the Christmas Season together.
God's ways are not our ways, as the Scriptures teach us in Isaiah 55:8-9:
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts."
I encourage you to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit this Christmas Season. Prepare your heart to be surprised by what God does in your life and family. He may do something totally different in your life, something you did not see coming. But take it as from the Lord, and seek to be a blessing to others.
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