Christmas - The Summons - James M Boice

The Summons...

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,

"Where is he that has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2).



And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:8-11).

Thoughts from James Montgomery Boice 

The wise men and shepherds each obeyed God's summons.

In the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a number of people received invitations by an extraterrestrial people to a visit they were soon going to make to earth.

The plot of the movie was in the heroic efforts of these people to get to the meeting pace and be there when the spaceship came down.

That was the kind of invitation the shepherds and the wise men received.  Only theirs was to a far more significant encounter. This visit to earth was not merely a visit of an alien people, but of the very God of the universe Himself. It was an invitation to the birth of Jesus. God's unique Son.

Can we imagine the shepherds or wise men refusing that unprecedented invitation?

Perhaps.

The magi lived at a great distance from Jerusalem and were alerted to the child's birth only the appearance of His star.

They might have reasoned: "This star probably announces the birth of a  Savior-King in Judea, but of course we could be mistaken. The way to Jerusalem is long. Others will probably be paying their respects. We don't need to go. It would be a lot more convenient if we could stay here."

The shepherds, too, might have refused the invitation.

 They might have said: "We are not dressed for the occasion, We have nothing to bring. We are not fit company for Him who is announced by angels."

They might even have asked, "But who will care for our sheep? Who will tend to the things for which we are responsible?"

Neither the wise men nor the shepherds did that.

Instead of making excuses the  shepherds said, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened that the Lord has told us about (Luke 2:15).

I wonder if you have been as obedient to God as those shepherds, who were so low on the social scale of their day, or the wise men, who were so removed from the happenings in Judea.

You know the story of Christmas. You even know the gospel of Jesus' death for sinners, for which Christmas is but a preparation.

You know the invitation of Christ: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Have you responded to that invitation?

Have you obeyed God's summons?

You have not found Christmas, nor will you ever find it, until you do.

   -- From The Christ of Christmas,
            by James Montgomery Boice