Christmas Morning: Son Rise on a New Dayනියැදිය

Faith leads to action. When we actually believe something is true, it influences what we do. I might say that going to church is important, but if I never went to church, what do I really believe? I might say that loving others as Jesus loves them is the Christian ethic, but if I only complain about, criticize, and cut down others, what is my true confession? And if I say that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, yet worship a plurality of gods in order to “cover my bases,” my core conviction becomes transparent.

What we truly believe will show up in our behavior.

If I say that I believe a chair will hold my weight when I sit in it, but never actually sit in the chair (for fear of it collapsing), my words don’t match my conduct. If that happens consistently enough, some might ask if I really believe what I say about the chair.

In Luke 2:15-18, the shepherds had a choice. They had heard from the angels that the Messiah had been born. They had been given instructions on where to find Him. They had been told that this child was the Savior who would bring peace! No doubt, while the angels were in front of the shepherds, they would have confessed that they believed what they were told about the Child. But, what would they do next? If they truly believed that the Savior of the world was a short walk away, they would go and see Him! Would their belief influence their actions?

Absolutely! The shepherds moved to the manger.

How about you? You may have heard about Jesus all your life. You may have confessed faith in Him at church camp. You may say that He is the treasure of your life. But if someone audited your actions, would your life map to your mouth?

This Christmas, don’t just say “Merry Christmas,” believe it … and act accordingly.

If the shepherds had heard the announcement and stayed in the field, they would have missed the moment. May we not miss our moment to trust and obey and follow Him today. What we truly believe will show up in our behavior.