This weekend we add the shepherds to the nativity set. Of all people, what are shepherds doing there? What role do they play? From the shepherds we learn (1) God’s word is worth hearing (v10); God’s word inspires praise (v14); (3) God’s word can be believed - they found everything to be exactly as God had revealed through His angel (v16, 20); and (4) God’s word spills over to others/evokes sharing (v17-19).

This weekend we add an angel or angels to the nativity set. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine Christmas without angels. They announce. They declare. They sing. Think of the Christmas hymns that include angels. Yet in every case, the messengers are not the message. The message always focuses on God and what He is doing for mankind. The angel declares: “I bring you good news of great joy!” Christmas is good news, not good advice or a self-improvement plan! The angel continues, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.” Moreover, the angel did not continue, “Once upon a time.” Christmas is not a fairy tale or legend; it’s really real for us.

This weekend we now add Joseph’s figurine to the nativity set. Chronologically, Mary’s announcement in Luke 1 must precede the angel’s appearance to Joseph in Matthew 1, for her pregnancy is now visible and Joseph plans to divorce her quietly. With God, however, things are not always as they appear to us. Hence, God sends an angel to Joseph in a dream to inform him that the child in her is not from another man but from the Holy Spirit, that God Himself is behind this big development! Once again, the angel does a gender-reveal and even gives the Baby’s name. In faith and obedience, Joseph wakes and does exactly as the angel of the Lord commanded him: (1) he took his wife; (2) he remained abstinent until after His birth; and (3) he named Him Jesus.

God sends Gabriel to tell Mary that she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear a son and call His name Jesus, as a virgin. In this dramatic encounter that she will mother the Son of the Most High, we see a human Mary respond thoughtfully (v29), inquisitively (v34), and ultimately....submissively (v38). Mary’s response, “I am the Lord’s servant” invites us to trust God in anything He sends into our life, whether we understand it or not.

Stewarding every asset for the kingdom is a spiritual struggle, so much so that Jesus calls us to stop storing up (i.e., dwelling on) earthly treasures which are insecure and will only combust on the Last Day! Rather, Jesus invites us to store up treasure that reaps eternal dividends...in heaven (faith, generosity, prayer, fasting, witnessing, love, and good works, etc.). The kingdom reorients our focus from being settlers here to pilgrims who are passing through - enjoy His material blessing but not stockpiling/dwelling upon them & holding onto them loosely/ready to share to one in need.

On this Reformation/Confirmation weekend, the greatest treasure we have received from God by the Holy Spirit is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful stewardship of this most precious gift should be the highest priority in our walk with Jesus. Poor management neglects worship; the Sacraments; the preaching, teaching, and reading of Scripture; vibrant prayer; and close relationships with other believers. Responsible stewardship, however, integrates these disciples into one’s daily and weekly rhythms with Jesus.

Though Jesus affirms that each day will bring its own trouble, every concern presents an opportunity for His children to trust in God’s gracious providence and care. King Hezekiah, when Isaiah came and told him that he was going to fall ill and die, went to God in prayer. Likewise, when Jesus needed to select 12 disciples to equip and release, spent the night in prayer with the Father. In Jesus, we are free and invited to take every concern to the Father too!

Every ability is a gift from God’s hand to be managed for His purposes and glory and not to be managed poorly, sat on, or taken for granted. Moses had a staff, but with God that was more than enough. We too will take a brief inventory of everything God has placed in our hand and give practical ways that we can steward those things for God, because with God, what we have in our hand is always enough.

The Bible continues (since Gen 3 “did God really say”?) to be challenged on many fronts. Many dismiss it as a book of myth, legend, and a vengeful God w/morsels of truth, some wise saying for life, but chalked full of contradictions and errors. Additionally, the Bible is said to be unscientific, historically unreliable, and culturally regressive...just an ancient text with declining modern value. The integrity of the First and Second Testaments screams otherwise! We have more, better, and earlier copies for the Bible than any other book in history. It has proven itself historically accurate, archeologically sound, and personally transformative. Give it an honest look and it will change your life and make you wise to Jesus too.

When order by evolution and order by creation are placed side-by-side, our belief in creationism is a much better story of God’s goodness and perfect plan. In this study of God’s goodness in creation, we will marvel at the Principle of Causality; the Anthropic Principle; and the Origin of First Life because ultimately, WE are the goodness of His creation.