By: Darrelyn L. Tutt

The characters surrounding Christmas fill me with as much wonder, at times, as the beautiful virgin birth.
Why does God Almighty choose to herald the great Messiah's birth through such curious men and means, dear reader?
Why does God allow frail humanity to be His "voice" and the "sound off" to His coming?
Why do contrary, contradictory, and sinful individuals get to be characters and play a part in the greatest story ever told?
What do we think of the cast of characters ordained God has selected for His story?
Hmmm ...
The answer to these questions is beautifully and wonderfully provoking:
The story of redemption unravels magnificently through sinful individuals because that's all God has to work with.
Even the best of men need saving.
Even the best of men need a Deliverer.
Even the best of men are sinful.
Stir the pot of humanity all together in its mix of minds, motives, and men, and we, all together, show ourselves a dark stew of unsavory, unprofitable meal.
We have the power to fuel none, feed none, and nurture none.
We, the people, are a "dark stew of humanity" requring the stir and salvation of a Savior.
We, the people, require sustenance from on high, and a Savior to dwell in our midst and clean the pot.
Romans 3:12

This month I hope to encourage those of you who are struggling with your identity, value, and worth in Christ and remind you of the value you have because of Christ.
Christ came to "stir the pot" and be a Savior in our midst.
 All who receive Him will be flavored and tempered by Him. We may feel some heat but the "meat" will last and be good.
The more we eat of Him, the more enriched and empowered we will become through Him.
"Remember in December" ...
 the reason He came.
I shall see Him but not now; 
I shall behold Him but not nigh;
Numbers 24:15-17
Balaam, the man who was selected for the pronouncing of this magnificent "Star" prophecy was a pagan seer and evil Medium early in Israel's history.
He was called in by the Moabite King to pronounce cursing on God's advancing and prosperous people and stop the prevailing force of power (Israel) threatening to undo them.
God stopped Balaam in his verbal tracks and chose to use "him."
God outdid, overshadowed, and overwhelmed the evil curse ready to spring from Balaam's lips and transposed and translated it into a blessing and promise instead,
 because God has the power to do that.
End of story and picture of glory.
Don't miss it.
God revealed His glory and showed Himself to Balaam, to the Moabites, and to His people Israel. He revealed His glory through a man of evil intent and delivered the preliminary news of His Son's coming through a man who was a "Seer" and to a people opposed to Him.
While it's unfortunate that Balaam's heart never repents nor sees its need for God, along with the Moabite people, and his voice even moves sadly into the trajectory of God's people with pivotal implications in the future (Revelation 2:14; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11), it seems wondrous to consider the implications and love of the Father giving birth and taking root through the lips of an "unclean" man to an unclean nation, and to an unclean people He coined "His Israel" with humble "beginnings" here and even earlier.
Read the story of Balaam with consideration to a seer name Balaam, a king named Balak, a nation named Moab, and a people named Israel.
And then remember this December .... the name of Jesus and insert "your" name into it.
All men and their stories erupt from His name, and by this name all men are saved.
Acts 4:12
Be blessed and find your rest in the name of Jesus.
How He loves you.
1) Read and reflect on Numbers 22-25.
2) Record insights and passages that are brought to mind through the reading.
3) Worship God for the beauty of holiness and the goodness of His mercy in your midst.
For a soul-stirring Savior named Jesus ...
For the name of Jesus,
Praise the Lord.
Remember in December and give thanks.