“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

God loves us just the way we are.

• There is nothing we can do to earn or merit God’s love. It is all grace. It is all God.
• There is nothing we can do to make God stop from loving us. God loves us and there is nothing we can do about it!
• There are no conditions to God loving us. God doesn’t say “When you’ve stopped sinning,” or “When you’re a better person,” I will love you. God really does love us just the way we are.

But, because God loves us, God cannot leave us where we are. God wants us to grow. God wants us to be better than who we are right now. God wants us to grow in wisdom. God wants us to grow to be more like him.

• God cannot leave us mired in sin.
• God cannot leave us as we are when he saved us.
• God makes us better. God makes us more like him.

If Jesus had to grow up and grow in his wisdom, certainly we need to grow up and grow in wisdom. It’s not enough just to show up to church. God wants us to grow up – to grow in wisdom, grow in knowledge, grow in service, grow in impact for the kingdom.

Lastly, the journey of growth is lifelong. So, don’t get discouraged when you can’t see improvement day by day. The way spiritual maturity works is that you can only tell in time. You should be a better you today than you were three years ago. But, are you going to be able to tell if you are a better version of you today than you were yesterday? If you can, great! If you can’t, it’s okay. Just keep following Jesus.

The goal of spiritual maturity is not perfection.

The goal of spiritual maturity is progress.

Keep growing. Keep obeying. Keep following Jesus.

“Because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me” (1 Corinthians 16:9).

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that he would remain with the Ephesians until Pentecost before making his way to Corinth because God was at work. But look at the very next thing the Apostle Paul says – “and there are many who oppose me.”

Effective work for God – Many who oppose me.

These go hand in hand.

Why would anyone oppose God’s work? Why wouldn’t everyone want God’s will to be done?

Wherever and whenever God is at work, the devil is working hard to discourage, dissuade, and oppose God.

When we are living in a way that is already out of step with God’s will, the devil only needs to watch. The devil doesn’t need to engage. We’re already doing the devil’s work fine all on our own.

It’s when we join in God’s work, it’s when we obey God and his will that the devil starts to ply his trade.

Whenever God is at work, God is at work through God’s people.

Guess how the devil goes to work. Yup. He uses people. The sad reality is that the devil doesn’t only use people outside the church. The New Testament tells that the most dangerous ones are those who are in the church. They use spiritual language to confuse and get their way.

So, if you find that God’s plan for your life is facing some opposition? Good! Keep up the good work! Keep seeking God’s will and God’s purpose for your life. Opposition is to be expected, but don’t let that get you down. In fact, use that as inspiration. You’re on the right track! Keep going!

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

Good news…
Great joy…
For all the people…

I love that. Who doesn’t like good news? Who doesn’t like joy? That’s why Christmas is beloved by so many people. You don’t even have to be a Christ-follower to love Christmas. In fact, most of the people celebrating Christmas are far from following Christ.

Luke tells us the source of “good news” of “great joy” for “all the people” – to you, a “Savior” is born. He is the “Messiah,” the “Lord.”

• Savior – Jesus is born in order to die on the cross to assuage the wrath of a holy God
• Messiah – Jesus is the anointed one, the one set apart to be born in order to die
• Lord – Jesus is Lord for he has purchased the eternal lives of those he saves

Christmas isn’t just a time to make us feel cozy and warm about family and friends. At the heart of the Christmas story is the truth that sinners are deserving of God’s wrath and judgment. But because God loves sinners, because God could not imagine an eternity without us in it, God sent his own Son to bear the brunt of God’s wrath on the cross and in hell. So that, all who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior will rise with Christ and be given eternal life.

That is the reason for the “good news” of “great joy” for “all the people.” This is great news for all sinners for we have a Savior!

Thank you, God.

Merry Christmas!