Today’s Devotional: The Christmas Sacrifice

When looking at shepherds and wise men, what we see is that they were willing to sacrifice, to pay the price.

The shepherd’s sacrifice was their willingness to leave their sheep to fend for themselves while they went off to find the Lamb of God.

The sheep were the shepherd’s livelihood, and to leave them at night was a risk, because that is when the wolves and other predators would come, attack, and kill the sheep. But by faith they entrusted their flocks to the Good Shepherd.

The wise men also sacrificed and paid the price. They left behind their families and their source of livelihood to follow a star.

They took a journey of faith and traveled a long distance. It was a perilous journey because there was always the chance of being robbed and/or killed. On top of that they also brought gifts of great worth, gold, frankincense and myrrh to lay at the feet of the newborn king.

Christmas is all about sacrifice, because Christmas is all about surrendering all that we have to come to the Lord Jesus Christ, Who surrendered all to come to us.

The Apostle Paul said that being God He left His glory behind to become human to die upon the cross (Philippians 2:6-8).

Jesus, the Creator of heaven and earth left behind His glory and power to become a baby, born to a poor family, and into a nation that was under the subjection to the Roman Empire.

Jesus sacrificed His life upon the cross, taking the punishment for our sins so that all who would believe, and come to Him by faith, surrendering their lives willingly, will never die but have eternal life.

Christmas means giving. Not just brightly wrapped gifts, but giving ourselves willingly over to the One who willing gave Himself to us, Jesus Christ.

This Christmas let’s make this sacrifice and willingly give all of who we are to Jesus Christ who willingly sacrificed Himself for us.