MID SOUTH REHAB GATHER 12.21.22
Why did Jesus come to Earth? To Show What Truly Matters – For You
As we prepare our hearts to celebrate the memory of God coming to Earth in the form of a man this Christmas season, I wanted to focus on one of the many reasons why Christ came to Earth in the first place. One clear reason that we will focus on today is for the enlightenment to all of what God truly values.
Luke 2:8-18
8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”d15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
I love the fact that our God does not look at the world as we are always so tempted to look at the world. God is not worried about the external appearance; God cares about the heart. John 7:24 Jesus says, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” In 1 Sam 16:7 we are told, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”” God does not care what the outside of a man or woman looks like. He does not care if you are wearing the most expensive clothes available or if you are adorned in hand me down clothes that some would consider rags. Consider the Christmas story from above in Luke 2.
The angelic announcement from a multitude of mighty messengers from God did not go to kings, did not go to politicians, did not go to the rich and mighty, but went to the pasture dwelling, smoke from the fire and dried sweat and sheep smelling, humblest of men shepherds. The Bible tells us in Egypt Pharaoh hated shepherds and would not dwell with them because of their odor. But our God is so different than the rulers on Earth. He tells His followers in Matt 20: 25But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Our God did not just preach servant leadership that did not give a rip about external appearances He lived it from the very beginning. He was born in a manger where livestock were stored, the heralding of His good news went first to the humblest among us, and He loves to exalt those who look lowly to the world. Our God came to save you, no matter who you are. If you are the poorest of the poor and the recluse of society, our God came for you. If people despise you because you are not as dolled up as they are, our God came for you. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that not one person is better than any other. We are ALL in DESPERATE need of salvation through the one who was born in the city of David, the Savior, who is Christ Jesus the Lord. I pray the joy of that message does for us what it did to our brothers the shepherds. I pray it fills us with joyful searching to see Jesus for ourselves, and once we meet Him in true relationship, I pray the tasting and seeing that He is good overflows in joy that we go and tell others what has been told and revealed to us.
May we as Midsouth Rehab and Continuum Rehab Therapy not be consumed with external appearances, but may we judge with right judgement. May we love and delight to serve all people. And may we spread the good news of Christmas and God’s saving us through coming for us, fulfilling all of the law and prophets, dying in our place, and resurrecting on the third day as Lord and Savior over all to ALL who we are able to this Christmas season. God bless, go team, and let’s pray!