Celebrate God’s Invitation to be Part of His Story
I am the youngest of five children. For my birth announcement, my mom printed a picture of my four older siblings peeking around a corner. The announcement said, “Shhh! There’s a baby in the house!”
I have no idea how my parents announced the births of my siblings, and it doesn’t matter. I’m quite fond of my own birth announcement. I love the fact that my parents were delighted to announce I was born, even though I was child number five.
Invitation to a Story
Pause for a moment and consider all the Christmas cards and annual letters you will receive. Family and friends put forth time, energy, and finances to inform you of what has been happening in their lives. Whether their year was good or bad, smooth or bumpy, simple or bananas, they choose to invite you into their story.
God is no different. He invites us into His story. When His son was born, He made sure others were aware.
John the Baptist
First of all, God sent an angel to the priest Zechariah. The angel tells Zechariah that he and his wife, Elizabeth, though they are old, will give birth to a son. The angel tells him he is to name his son John, and that his son will turn disobedient people back to God. John will get the people ready for the Lord. In other words, John is to announce Jesus’ arrival!
As a bonus, when pregnant Mary visited pregnant Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s baby leaped in her womb when Mary greeted her. Luke tells us, “…Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women and your child will be blessed! How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?’” (Luke 1:41b-43, CSB)
Later, John was the one who traveled throughout the vicinity of the Jordan and proclaimed a baptism of repentance. Luke aligns John with a prophecy from Isaiah, “…A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord…” (Luke 3:4, CSB) John tells the people he is not the Messiah, but that “one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16, CSB)
Angels and Shepherds
Second, just like my parents announced my birth, God announced the birth of Jesus. God went all out with an angel choir! God wanted to make sure everyone was included. So, God sent His big announcement to a group of random shepherds on the local hillside.
I’ve always wondered if others saw and heard the angels’ proclamation. After all, sound does travel. In addition, I imagine an angel choir in the sky would be difficult to miss if you were awake.
Wise Men and a Star
Third, God placed a star in the sky that grabbed the attention of a group of Wise Men. They recognized its significance and traveled a long distance to welcome a new King. They may have missed the actual birth, but they weren’t late for the party. God invited them into His story, and they came.
Old Testament Invitations
Fourth, long before Jesus’ actual birth, God was inviting people into His story. God promised Abraham He would make him to be a great nation. Then, God frees the Israelites (Abraham’s descendants) from the Egyptians. When they reach Mount Sinai He gives them this word; “Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine.” (Exodus 19:5, CSB)
In addition, God gave prophecies that told of the coming Messiah. He continually invited others into His story and into His life.
- In Isaiah 7:14, the virgin birth is prophesied. We read about the angel’s announcement to the virgin Mary in Luke one.
- In Hosea 11:1, we read “… out of Egypt I called my son.” In Matthew two we learn how Joseph and Mary escape to Egypt for a time to protect Jesus from King Herod.
- Micah 5:2 says, “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.” Matthew tells us Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea (Matthew 2:1) and Luke informs us Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem because of the census (Luke 2:1-6).
God Continues to Invite
Lastly, God continues to invite us into His story. Just like we invite others into our story every Christmas season with our cards and letters, God wants us to be a part of His story.
Paul tells us in Romans 5:8-11, “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.” (CSB)
God’s Story isn’t Over
Thankfully, neither God’s story, nor our story, is over. Just as God announced Jesus’ birth, He continues to announce Jesus’ return. God promises us that one day we will dwell with Him just as Adam and Eve did at creation. In fact, He guarantees this with the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
“In Him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Ephesians 1:13-14, CSB
“There will be the shout of command, the archangel’s voice, the sound of God’s trumpet, and the Lord Himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first; then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.”
1Thessalonians 4:16-17, GNT
Be a Part of His Story
Christmas is just a few days away; the Advent Season will officially end. However, God will continue to invite us into His story. He wants us to draw near; it’s why He came. He longs to bless us with His presence.
God is excited to be with you and share His story with you. Let that sink it. He’s offering so much more than a newsy letter in a card sent once a year. He longs for you to know He delights in you, His child. God invites each of us, all of us, to celebrate every day with Him, in His story.
Nativity Photo by Kenneth Lin on Unsplash
