At times, we have a problem staying centered in the things of God. Easy to become side-tracked, on a dead-end road. Another word we could use would be “balanced”. Easy to become over balanced in some area.
Christmas is a good example. Side-tracked as to the value of Christmas.
1. To the children it’s all about gifts, toys, and things.
2. To the merchant it’s dollars, profit, or loss.
3. To the government its lawsuits. Law enforcement with drunk drivers, etc.
If I were to ask you “did you have a good Christmas?” how would you answer? On what would you base “good”? according to the gospel, Christmas story on the birth of Christ, what does God value? What’s important to God ought to be important to us.
I. God Values Personal Purity. Verse 27; to be a virgin
1. When God chose a mother for His Son, He chose a girl who was pure.
2. God tells us nothing of Mary’s looks.
a. We know nothing about her talent, or her ability.
b. We know nothing about her size, her weight.
c. She must have been a good girl, already engaged to Joseph.
3. She came from the city of Nazareth, a city that had it’s share of sin and temptation.
4. Just as it was not easy then, it’s sure not easy now.
5. The Devil, with all his devices, is out to destroy us, but we ought to be just as determined by God’s grace, strength, and help not to let the world and its system destroy our youth’s purity.
6. Joseph, immorality is a sin against God. Genesis 39:9
7. There is probably more “immorality” at this time of year than any other. Let’s not add to it.
II. God Values the Home
1. God sent His Son in a humble Jewish home. The home of a poor working man.
2. God could have sent His Son in any place at any age.
a. He chose to leave His Son 30 years in a home, mother, earthly father, brothers, before He began His ministry.
b. God was saying, “I want my Son to be a part of a family, part of a home.”
3. The older I get, the more I realize:
a. You can make so much money, you can’t spend it all.
b. You can live in a house so big you could never find all the rooms.
c. Drive a car so big everybody envies you.
d. You can wear clothes that the common man could never afford.
e. You can have all of those things, but if you don’t have the love of a good family and home. You are not going to be a happy person.
4. The older I get, the more I see the most miserable and unhappy people are those who are not surrounded with a healthy family.
5. Yet, in America, we are saying:
a. You don’t need the home anymore.
b. You don’t need to get married.
c. You don’t need to be a part of a family.
6. I would like to challenge you this evening “to protect your own marriage, your home.”
a. Your home is more important than your business.
b. Spend time with your children. Talk to them.
III. God Values Human Government
1. The census: Joseph and Mary had to come from the city of Nazareth to Bethlehem.
a. About 60 – 70 miles
b. An extremely poor family.
c. They walked, or at best rode a donkey.
2. The reason they respected human government. Romans 13:1; Mark 12:17
3. I’m sure they could have gotten around this.
IV. God Values the Little Things. Luke 2:24
1. Big prices do not mean big values.
2. To you mothers and dads, what is the best gift you ever had?
3. What gift brings fond memories and tears to your eyes.
4. What little gift is so big, that it’s priceless?
a. Sandra – bus, little girl, and broken statue.
b. Letter from my son.
5. It’s not clothes, not some mechanical gift, not something a lot of money was spent on.
6. But it’s a gift that says, “I love you”.
7. At times, we lose respect for the small things.
a. Small church or S.S.
b. Small place of service, small amount of giving.
c. Small person.
8. Did you have a good Christmas? On what did you value it?
Personal Purity
Good home or family
Great country – with its freedom
The little things that say I love you.
2 Corinthians 8:9
