Growing up in the church, I can't count how many times I've read the story of Jesus' birth in the scriptures. I can recite all the important details of the narrative by heart, but in meditating on familiar stories and settings, God can always reveal new truths to us.

I was going over Jesus' birth again this year and saw a few little details from the story, out of all those details long engrained in my memory, in a new light. The first people on Earth to recognize Jesus for who he was outside of his family were the shepherds and wise men. What a blessing it was for them to receive that knowledge so early in Jesus' life on Earth! The "King of the Jews" (Matthew 2) had been born! The "Messiah" and "Savior" (Luke 2) had finally come! This same blessing aligns with my own story. I was raised by parents who taught me from my own birth the truth of the Gospel in Jesus' birth: That he came to save us from sin and death when we were powerless to save ourselves. I will forever be grateful for learning that truth so early in my own life.

Back to Bethlehem, after the shepherds and wise men met Jesus, they left to return to their lives. I won't speculate on their future salvation, but I do know if they fully and deeply understood who Jesus was at that moment, they would never have returned to their flocks or their kingdoms so hastily. They would have instead taken up Jesus' future command he gave to so many: "Follow me."

It greatly saddens me to see people who claim to recognize who Jesus is, but fail to obey that "follow me" command. We see that failure all too often in our Tallahassee "Southern Comfort" culture Dean speaks of frequently. Those people might even bring Jesus a "gift", like the wise men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Today, people bring the facts that they are "raised right", "threw a $20 in the plate last time at church", and "got baptized and confirmed as a kid."

As a church this Christmas season, let's obey Jesus' call of "Follow me." Let's pursue his kingdom earnestly right here in this city, having a great opportunity to see that kingdom grow at Christmas on the Moon December 9th. Let's give sacrificially, because Jesus has already paid sin's ransom. Let's volunteer joyfully and become the hands and feet of Christ to Tallahassee. Let's love unconditionally, because God loved us enough to make that first Christmas a reality.  

(Dave is happy the attendees of City Church can take direction well, as he volunteers weekly with the parking crew. He keeps his weeks busy by bringing you the latest sports news from the Big Bend and south Georgia as an anchor and reporter for WTXL ABC27. He has attended City church since January 2010.)