The shepherds in the fields of Ephrathah did not consider their flocks more valuable than the blessing of Christmas. They could have lost some, or even many, of their sheep—but meeting the Messiah was far more critical and infinitely more precious. The same was true of the Magi who came to worship the King of the Jews—the Savior whom they regarded as more valuable than their wealth and even their very lives. It is quite possible that they never returned to their homeland. By every human calculation, they risked losing everything. Yet they were willing to pay the price for an encounter with the Messiah, the newborn King. They were brave enough to let go of all things for the sake of meeting Him.
One vital truth we must understand is this: Christianity is not an easy road. Yet many Christians today treat salvation as something cheap. As long as they celebrate Christmas, they feel secure. A mere acknowledgment of the historical fact that Jesus the Savior has come is seen as enough to place them among the saved. But salvation is not cheap. Scripture says that believers must work out their salvation with fear and trembling. It is simple logic—how could the Lord Jesus welcome into His Kingdom those who have lived carelessly and selfishly?
We must be honest: the Christianity practiced by many believers today values the world more than God. It seeks to satisfy the flesh rather than to do the Father’s will. It still indulges in lust and greed, still clings to worldly wealth, and, in practice, treats God as unnecessary in daily life—confined only to church matters, and this is tragic. That is why we must seriously ask: When we stand before Jesus one day, will we be found precious in His sight? The answer depends on how precious He is to us now.
Yes, we are all precious in the eyes of God—that is why Jesus died on the cross and gave His whole life for us. He who was rich became poor, so that we who were poor might become rich. But do not think immediately of material wealth. What we must imitate is how He emptied Himself, became fully human in every way, and learned obedience to the Father in heaven. That is what we must focus on, so that we may be found worthy to enter His Kingdom.
If God saves us, it is so that we may change, grow, and be made worthy to become members of His royal family. That is the cost of encountering Jesus. God’s Word says, “Come out from among them and be separate; do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you as My sons and daughters.” That is the price.
Yet many Christians think they are already Christians simply because they celebrate Christmas—and that this guarantees their acceptance by God. We must have the courage to confront a Christianity that has strayed from its path. In many churches today, Jesus is exalted as the mighty, powerful, and glorious One—which is indeed true in His divine nature—but, unknowingly, such portrayals often “erase” the character of Jesus revealed in the context of salvation.
In the work of salvation, Jesus came in humility. He completed His mission meekly, even to the point of death on the cross. He taught us, “As I live, so you also must live. Love your enemies. If there is vengeance, it is Mine to repay.” Yet what do we often hear now? As if God were a champion ready to strike down anyone who hurts us—as if every problem must be removed, and every opponent destroyed.
But we must ask ourselves: Which Jesus are we following?
If we truly follow the Lord Jesus, we must not stop at Bethlehem. Do not follow Him only when He turns water into wine, heals the sick, or raises the dead. We must follow Him when He enters Gethsemane, when He climbs the hill of Calvary. There lies the peak of His victory. That is why the Lord says, “If anyone does not take up his cross, he is not worthy of Me. You cannot meet Me.”