The Miracles Of Christmas - All It Needs Is Belief

Every now and then every person asks for a miracle in their life. Can you recall miracles you have asked God for? Isn’t it great that we have the ability to ask God for such a thing?

A miracle is a visible interruption of the laws of nature, such that can only be explained by divine intervention. In other words, when there is nothing more that man can do, then God does it for us because He has the power to do all things impossible. We have confidence in this as we read Matt 19:26 “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” In Mark 9:23 Jesus reminded the man who brought his son to him because he was possessed by a demon, and no doctor and no other resource could remove it; and Jesus said to the man before he healed his son “Everything is possible for him who believes” and then Jesus gave him a miracle, and his son was healed.

Christmas time reminds us that miracles exist and that God does care for each of us, so much so that He loves to perform miracles in our lives. It is at this time of year we should especially reflect on the miracles of Christmas and the miracles that God has done in our own lives. To do so helps us to remember what we believe, and who we believe in. As we remind ourselves of what we believe, and say it out loud, it brings hope when we feel hopeless, it brings new strength when we feel weary, it brings joy when all we seem to see is struggles. It brings peace and confidence that far surpasses any human understanding. It is my hope that today we will look into our own lives and begin to remember the miracles God has given to each of us, reaffirming our belief in the reason for the season - Jesus, and to gain a new confidence that God is still in the miracle business in each of our lives today, and we can trust him for more each and every day.

As we look at the miracles of Christmas, we see an important key that makes miracles happen. That key is: Belief. Many people today still struggle with the story of Christmas simply because they do not believe. Belief is a major component of life for every believer. Without it, miracles cannot happen. All throughout scripture we find Jesus asking those who were about to receive a miracle from him ‘if they believed’. Each one who affirmed that indeed they believed received their miracle.

Just think ... our belief was newly birthed in each of us when we embraced the Christmas Story and its miracles. So what are the miracles of Christmas?

Miracles Of Christmas:

1. The first miracle of Christmas was when Mary, a virgin, was chosen to be the mother of the Son of God, and then became pregnant.

Read: Luke 1:26-38. An angel appears to a young woman, a virgin, the one appointed by God and tells her that she indeed has been chosen to be the mother of the Son of God. Not only that, but she would also become pregnant by the “power of the Most High” who would overshadow her ... not by man’s design, by God’s. And then the angel gives her this assurance “for nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). What made the miracle happen? Note Mary’s response in vs. 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’”

Mary believed ... because God was in it, and it happened. Jesus was born. Can you imagine what would have happened if Mary had not believed ... and would not have accepted the calling that was on her life?

2. The second miracle involved Joseph. What a shock it must have been for him when he was told of Mary’s pregnancy. In Matt 1 we read of the account ... and in order to save her from public disgrace and humiliation he was going to divorce her privately ... even though they were only engaged, the custom at that time was that engagement was the same as marriage until they took their vows and made it legal. An angel paid Joseph a visit in a dream and he was shown what would be and what he needed to do. Joseph, when he awoke, believed ... and took Mary to be his wife and called the new baby Jesus. Can you imagine what may have happened if he had not believed and done what the angel had instructed him to do ... the trip to Bethlehem may not have happened.

3. The third miracle was the action of the shepherds who believed. In Luke 2 we read the angel of the Lord appeared to them and told them the good news, the message “today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” After the heavenly host appeared and exclaimed their praise as a crowd heralding the arrival of a King the shepherds took the step of faith because they believed and they went to Bethlehem and found the baby Jesus just as the angels had said. Now note their importance. Vs 17 “when they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them... The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”