We know what we want for Christmas, but what about what we need?

The shepherds modeled three excellent responses to the good news about Jesus.

What we see in the life of Mary is such an encouragement. That if I surrender to the will of God and say, “God I just want to do your will. I want you to run my life. Do whatever you want with me.” If I surrender myself completely to God, then I can know that rejoicing is coming.

When God breaks his silence in Luke 1, he demonstrates that he will be faithful, even when he has been silent. This is the God that Zechariah and Elizabeth experienced, and this is the same God that we serve.

The way that we anticipate and hope in and believe in the return of Jesus will help us to endure as we run this race. Because Jesus will finish well, we can finish well.

If you see Jesus as being of surpassing value, if you see Jesus as being worth it, then some day, like Paul, you will be able to say when you get to the end of your life, that you fought the good fight, you finished the race, you have kept the faith. Jesus is worthy of your life, and he will carry you through.

To ‘finish well’ is to be following Christ in your final steps.

Every day we need to come to God and seek him humbly and to put our complete faith in Jesus as our mediator, as our savior. If we seek God humbly and rely on Jesus, and not on ourselves, then we can finish well.