And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. ~Luke 2:6,7
As Pastor has led us through the Christmas story these past few weeks, we have been given the opportunity to reflect on a very important truth. God has come! God’s first arrival into this world is not what one would expect from the Creator of the entire universe. I would have imagined something much more like God’s giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai, with trumpets, thunder, earthquakes, fire and smoke. That is the way I would have expected Him to come.
I could never have imagined God coming as a baby to such a lowly and poor couple under the circumstances we find here in Luke’s Gospel. But as Pastor has pointed out to us, “God’s will is always accomplished God’s way and in God’s time.” The prophet Isaiah knew well that God’s way was not like our way… because God told him.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ~Isaiah 55:8,9
I don’t pretend to understand everything God says or does, but I do believe everything He says or does is right and good and true. The birth of Jesus is a good example of how God’s ways are not our ways. So when my life takes a turn in an unexpected direction and God brings trouble and difficulty my way, I remember I do not have the perspective God has and His ways are best and for my own good (Rom. 8:28). I imagine sheep do not always understand what the shepherd is doing, or the reasons behind where he leads them, but they follow him nonetheless. Jesus is our Shepherd, He is God with us.
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). ~Matthew 1:23
It staggers the mind to think God’s plan has ever been the birth of Jesus as His entrance into the world He created. I really appreciated the thoughts Pastor shared with us on what the incarnation means: God with us = God became one of us God with us = God is not against us God with us = God does not give up on us The Incarnation is God’s answer for the problem of evil and sin. He would come as one of us; subjected to the same difficult and painful circumstances, He would be made like us in every way yet without sin. The Incarnation was the prelude to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. The birth of Jesus was necessary before His death… again something I never could have imagined or expected; God as an infant, lain in a manger and later dying for my sin. I am so glad He is not like us! Look on Him who was born, crucified, and is now risen! Then go with me and tell someone…
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. ~Luke 2:15-20