Christmas!!!
God pulls all the stops in announcing the birth of His Son. Its a beautiful time to ponder God’s heart and excitement over His plan to be with us forever.
God knows no timeline, He is Omnipotent and Omniscient He reveals His plan for the birth of His Son, our Redeemer hundreds of years prior to Jesus’ birth. (Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2)
God speaks to those who anticipate His coming as a baby (the shepherds) and to those who intellectually and diplomatically foresee His coming (the wise men).
Take the shepherds – They have been waiting for so long. They have heard the stories of the miracles God had done for and through their fore fathers. Their present condition is not satisfactory considering the fact that they were living under the regime of the Roman empire. In their minds the king was God’s physical presence who would deliver them and be their leader. I wonder if that’s what they were waiting for when they remembered “their hope of a deliverer”.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with hoping for physical deliverance in this world. Think of the young girl being trafficked for her body, the emotionally abused wife in an average home – the deep longing for deliverance from their current circumstances is so real. Why even David pleads to God for his life and is delivered! So go right ahead and talk to God your Father.
God announces Jesus’ birth is a show-stopping performance by the angels. They received a standing ovation and it sure was an action-driven message. It is recorded that the shepherds went seeking for this baby.
We are all waiting for something. Something to happen as we celebrate Jesus’ birthday, something to happen when Jesus returns again. How are we waiting? Are we going about the tasks we have at hand diligently? or are we like the bridesmaids who didn’t think they would need more oil while they were waiting for the groom (The parable of the bridesmaids). What are you anticipating?
Secondly, the Wise men – These men were probably astronomers and astrologers. They are seeking to solve mysteries. They are obviously well versed with literature and cross cultural studies of world views prevalent around them. They were studying the stars and they were willing to cross borders to see what kind of mystery was in another.
It is to these wise men God used His creation (the Star) to bring them to His son. God spoke to them in a language they were familiar with. God spoke to them in and through their understanding of life. God is an excellent communicator.
What kind of mystery are you wrestling with in your heart? How are you seeking for its resolution?
How effective are you in sharing the stories in your life? What ways do you implement ?
God is our Father and sees far more than we can see or plan. God knows the struggles of Mary’s pregnancy and the journey she tarried. God knew the suffering of running away to escape a dire circumstance or situation (Joseph took Mary and Jesus and fled to Egypt to protect Jesus). God knows your heart, God knows your situation.
“Wait in your story” or circumstance ( Shekinah’s play Waiting) . Wait actively, remember the little boy with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish? He came with some food, Remember the leper who called out to Jesus asking for healing? Remember the lady who touched Jesus cloak? They were all waiting, actively waiting. They brought, they called, they touched. Much in contrast with the Pharisees who tragically were ‘doing” what God had set them apart for but without actively waiting.
So while we celebrate and enjoy, recollecting the many ways God announces the birth of His Son. (He sure pulled all the stops!) Watch, pray and wait actively.
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