Happy Christmastime Friday, everyone–
Am I a day late, or 364 days early, to wish you all a Merry Christmas? Because the birth of Jesus is an event we should really celebrate all year long. Inarguably it is a day that changed history, and also began the process to change the final destination of millions and millions of people.
I have some random thoughts about Christmas–hopefully one or more will prove meaningful to you. My main theme is this: you need to get comfortable with the fact that God does not operate the way you or I would. For example, wouldn’t we time the entrance of Jesus into the world after, say, the printing press was invented, or even the internet? Would that not inform more people about Jesus in a timely manner? But God operates on His perfect schedule:
“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights sons.” [Galatians 4:6]
Also, would you or I have the baby Jesus take his first breath in a barn? Should there not be the aroma of lilacs or roses instead? I’ve worked thousands of hours in a barn, and it’s not the aroma I would have chosen for the Son of God:
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”[Luke 2:6-7]
And if we were running the show, would we not make an announcement of the birth of the Savior to the religious and political leaders of the day, and not simple shepherds?
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.'” [Luke 2:8-11]
And yet, despite this seemingly shaky beginning, Christianity today is the world’s largest religion, with over 2.5 billion adherents. May the Lord be praised, for He knows exactly what He is doing! And if He knows what He is doing, may I suggest that we obey when He gives us something to do.
Merry Christmas,
Keith