“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8

One morning as I was looking through some pictures not he internet, I noticed a picture of a sunset where the sun, coming down to meet the ocean, made a picture of a cross. How often do we walk through another day and never see the cross, never think of the cross, and never point out the cross that we might encounter in nature?

Probably all of us have played the game – “I Spy.” It is a game that my wife and I used to play with our oldest son to keep his mind busy on long trips. Usually you look for a color, but today I want you to consider looking for a cross every where you go. If you pay attention, I think you may notice that you can see it everywhere. Anytime you see two lines cross each other, see the cross; it may be the letter “t”, it may be a pane in a window or the connecting of floor tiles. Look around you and pay attention to your world.

In our verse for today, there is one word that is vital…it is the word “obedient.” Did you ever think about Jesus having a choice? He did. In fact when we look at Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, He asks G-d three times, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. ” (Matthew 26) Yet, there was no other way for our salvation, and our redemption. Jesus knew this, and so he obeyed. Think about it, what if Jesus had chosen not to obey. There would be no reason to celebrate Christmas; there would be no hope. But Jesus did obey, and because of that we have hope. And we are to share that hope!

My question for you today, eight days before Christmas, “Are you obeying?” Are you praying every day, reading scripture every day, and are you pointing others to Jesus? It matters.

So today, during this Christmas season, throughout this next year and beyond…let us be looking for the Cross and pointing others to Jesus. Let this little Christmas devotion challenge us to become “Cross-pointers” every day!

Pastor Dave