Each of us are inspired by different things. Some are inspired by nature, such as watching a gorgeous sunset, or just taking a leisurely stroll. Some are inspired by beauty, such as admiring a painting by Rembrant. Yet others are inspired by an uplifting book, a stimulating lecture or dialogue, or the beautiful lyrics of a catchy song. Since today is Christmas, let me share my inspiration from the Christmas story. The text comes from Philippians 2:6-8.
and took on human nature. He set aside his divine rights to glory and power and became a human being who is subjected to place, time and many other human limitations. In short, Jesus choose to leave the comfort of heaven and the rich fellowship with God to come down to earth. So, why is this story inspiring? First, Jesus wasn't forced into it. He had a choice, and he choose to leave home! Second, his choice goes against our culture of "not losing out", or in Singapore, we call it the "kiasu" mentality. Today, most of us are driven by upward mobility, ie. upgrading and improving one's status. To leave heaven for earth, to exchange divinity for humanity, isn't that a big downgrade?
To appreciate the significance of this Christmas story, one needs to ask, "What propelled the Son of God to do so?" What was his purpose? -------------
In the conclusion of his book, Come before Winter, Charles Swindoll shared the story of a farmer who became jaded in his faith. Skeptical, he chose to isolate himself from others and live out his days without the hassles connected with people involvements. It took a never-to-be-forgotten experience in the dead of winter to jar the man free from his self-imposed cynicism and draw him back to the One from whom he had distanced himself for so many years.
One raw winter night, the man heard an irregular thumping sound against the kitchen storm door. He went to a window and watched as tiny, shivering sparrows, attracted to the evident warmth inside, beat in vain against the glass.
Touched, the farmer bundled up and trudged through fresh snow to open the barn for the struggling birds. He turned on the lights, tossed some hay in a corner, and sprinkled a trail of saltine crackers to direct them to the barn. But the sparrows, which has scattered in all directions when he emerged from the house, still hid in the darkness, afraid of him.
He tried various tactics: circling behind the birds to drive them towards the barn, tossing cracker crumbs in the air toward them, retreating to his house to see if they'd flutter into the barn on their own. Nothing worked. He, a huge alien creature, had terrified them; the birds could not understand that he actually desired to help.
He withdrew to his house and watched the doomed sparrows through a window. As he stared, a thought hit him like lightning from a clear blue sky: If only I could become a bird - one of them - just for a moment. Then I wouldn't frighten them so. I could show them the way to warmth and safety. At the same time moment, another thought dawned on him. He had grasped the whole principle of the Incarnation.
A man becoming a bird is nothing compared to God's becoming a man. The concept of a sovereign being as big as the universe He created, confining Himself to a human body was - and is - too much for some people to believe.
Christmas is a timely reminder that God did indeed become a man. Because of Jesus, because He died for our sins and 
because He rose from the grave, the Christian faith has substance. Just as Swindoll wrote, He promises you not merely a temporary barn for overnight shelter but a permanent home with Him, eternal in heavens ... if you will only come.
The bible also says that "you are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:31). God is aware of everything that happens even to sparrows, and you are far more valuable to him than they are. You are so valuable that God sent his only Son to die for you. Because God places such value on you, you need never fear personal threats or difficult trials.
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