Tuesday, December 22, 2009

A Christmas Lesson for us

And Mary said, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."
-Luke 1:46, 47

Down through the ages learned people, theologians, and Bible scholars alike have pondered the question as to why God chose Joseph and Mary for the task of being the earthly parents of Jesus Christ. Some might think that it would have made more sense to have had Christ be born in a more modern time and to more influential people. From there would not the Lord have been in a better position to share the Good News of salvation? In response to such postulating I find myself considering that one, God is not in the habit of explaining Himself or His actions to mankind. Secondly, God is also not in the habit of doing what makes sense to us. He is God, Lord, Creator, Redeemer, and Savior, and He will work His will according to His plans and purposes and not according to ours. Thirdly, the way God accomplished the coming of Christ into the world makes perfect sense to me. Christ came to identify with sinful humanity. He came to walk among us that He might see what we see, feel what we feel, and experience pain as we so often experience it. Jesus Christ came into the world at just the right time and just when the world needed Him the most. There are dozens of different ways God could have brought it all about, but God caused it to happen in a manner that would require is to by faith trust in Him completely. So, even in Jesus' birth we find the essence of true and unquestioning faith. We believe not on the basis of what makes sense, but on the basis of what God has said and done.

Life presents all sorts of situations, occurrences, and happenings which are best understood when taken by faith. If I happen to see the beauty of a sunset at the end of a clear day, shall I begin to analyze how it all happens and try to figure out why those colors span the horizon as they do? No, I choose instead to marvel at the beauty of the sunset, and enjoy the majesty and grandeur of it because God allowed me to possess eyesight and the opportunity to view it at that moment. So it is with the coming of Christ in the world. Let's not miss out on the power of what God has done by picking it apart.

God's timing is always best. God knew exactly what He was doing and why when He sent Christ into the world in the manner that He did. We need look no further than that humble stable in the insignificant little town of Bethlehem to see the wonder of God's grace. Mary and Joseph were seemingly insignificant people called to a great task. Rather than question God they did as they were told. And they were blessed for doing so.

Don't you think there's a lesson there for us?

Merry Christmas!

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