How Am I in the Christmas Story?
There’s so much detail in the story of Jesus’ birth.
Lives are involved and highlighted that deserve to be looked into… more than just a glance given.
As Christians, we know that Jesus is the highest glory of our story; everything that we have and see happening in time past and in time present is articulated around Jesus.
And in the Christmas story there are people who relate more to us than we know.
In Matthew and Luke, chapters 1 & 2, we can enter into the amazing portrait that was painted that began Love’s entrance into human form.
The people that God used to orchestrate His son’s coming are closely related to us. They were people who, served, who worked, who had parents, who had long-standing struggles; people who were married and people who were alone after their spouses death… and there were people who wanted to be married. There were people who had unanswered revelations and prayers, and people who were stubborn, yet hopeful.
Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon, Anna, and many others were all like us in some way.
Did they know the night before the angel came or the prayer was answered that everything would change that next morning?
No! They went to bed many nights and lived out many days awaiting the fulfillment of what they hoped for.
For Mary, was barely a woman, who was continually serving. Luke 1:48
She had hopes and dreams coming to pass, probably aligning right according to plan. She had met the man she was going to marry and serve and build a life with. Matthew 1:19 Was she expecting the interruption to her wedding planning for such a life-changing event? Not at all. And here we are as people who serve and make plans for what’s to come. Are we humble in our walk, to accept what God brings? Or do we make our plans the strict guideline of which we walk, not allowing any interruption? What if serving begins to look a lot different in our next season, even when we are dedicated and hoping for promotion where we are? What if our big plans are altered through God’s doing? Will we be like Mary and have willing hearts that say, “As His servant, I accept whatever He has for me. May everything you have told me come to pass.” Luke 1:38
For Joseph was a man of honor and integrity. Matthew 1:19
He was looked at by those around him with awe and inspiration. How could he allow his image to be tainted by his fiancée who becomes pregnant before their marriage? Luke 1:26-35 This would shatter how people viewed him. Rumors would be spread and this would change the course of his life. He would lose the respect of those in his town, from friends and family and especially those in the “church”. He would have to walk in full trust and drop the questions that would undoubtedly enter his mind at times, wondering if it was all true or just a misunderstood dream. He would have to take Mary as his own, and her son, that’s not legitimately his. He would have to protect her and not let fear creep in of all the danger that was after their baby boy. Matthew 2:13-22 He would also have to refrain from having sex with his wife for months as newlyweds to keep the plan of God pure. Matthew 1:25 Are we able to put aside recognition from those around us to serve God’s ultimate plan? Are we able to walk in the truth that exists in our hearts given to us by God despite what those around us are saying or thinking? Can we shelter people around us, despite criticism and question? Who knows what God could be asking you to take a bigger step toward… Joseph could have dismissed his fiancée quietly, that would have been an honorable thing to do. Matthew 1:19 But who would’ve been by her side throughout the journey ahead? Who would have been her shoulder to lean on when the uncertainty was overbearing? Can we refrain from what is right to do even when God asks us to break away from it or wait for a while? Will we be like Joseph and take an internal step of faith, one that doesn’t parallel with culture to honor God? “When Joseph awoke from his dream, he did all that the angel of the Lord instructed him to do.“ Matthew 1:24
For Elizabeth was virtuous, but promise-less. Luke 1:6-7
She had come from generations of miracles. From the family of Aaron, who was Moses’ voice to free the Israelites out of Egypt, powerful things had happened in her family line. Luke 1:5 And she couldn’t even conceive a child… Luke 1:7 Yet, she was a lover of God and closely followed what God commanded of her. Luke 1:6 Elizabeth no doubt had the pressure of a great lineage upon her. And although not being able to have a child would have looked like a curse from God in those days, she still found her delight in Him. And through this delight, God answered her life-long prayer. Luke 1:24 When this miracle was filled in her life, she wasn’t living in such a way to praise the miracle that she had been waiting for, but her heart had been in a posture to always praise the Promise-Giver. Luke 1:25 In our times of seeking after God, do our hearts stay in a position to continually fall in love, or do we stray to desire the gift a bit more than Him? Elizabeth was an old woman. She had lived her whole life desiring to have a baby. But all of the years of dreaming didn’t drift her from a life rooted in His love. Do we put our gifts on the altar in the presence of the Lord, or do we cling to them in hopes that we will be the one to bring them about? How easy it is for us to enlarge our eyes to what we desire, but the goal of our lives should be to make Him our fulfillment and our treasure. For if and when He does answer our heart’s plea, we will be full of praise to Him alone and not moved to worship any idols that we make for ourselves.
For Zechariah was a servant-leader in ministry. Luke 1:8-9
An angel appeared to Zechariah with great news! His prayers were answered! Luke 1:13 He would enter into a season of much joy and gladness, and not only would him and his wife rejoice, but many around them would! Luke 1:14 He was given a clear path to how things would come about through his son. Luke 1:15-17 He had been given insight to the things to come and yet, he was overcome with disbelief! Luke 1:18 Because of his unbelief, his ability to talk was removed from him until his son was 8 days old… Luke 1:20 How many times do we seek the Lord for something, and when he comes to us, refuse His words and stubbornly accept disbelief instead of His voice? We seek clarity for moments and seasons but, our faith is blown away when He brings understanding. As we walk and ask for clarity, let our faith not be stunted because we haven’t pressed into the miracles that He has done and is doing all around us. When we seek miracles but our perspective is weak we miss God’s work around us. Our perspective to see miracles in our everyday life will be what enhances our faith to receive what God says over us when the time comes!
For Simeon was a long-time believer. Luke 2:25
Simeon was an elderly man who walked in the ways of the Lord; he kept himself pure and had a heart open to what the Holy Spirit revealed to him. In fact, he had a revelation that was in the balance. He was waiting to meet The Refreshing of Israel before he met his deathbed. Luke 2:25-26 And in His elderly state He literally walked where the Lord told him to walk. Luke 2:27 Because of his consistency and ultimate trust in the Lord, he was one of the first people to hold and prophesy over Jesus after his birth. Luke 2:28-31 How long can we hold onto promises from God? Do we let go after a week, a month, or a few years? Or are we people willing to trust, even if it takes all of our time on earth? For Simeon, he had a heart that didn’t fade no matter how much time stood in between his revelation and the fulfillment of it. And within this life, do we continue to walk with God once we have heard a revelation? Or do we stop and wait for God to bring it to us? For Simeon had to walk where God asked Him to go in order to fulfill the promise. Do we listen to His voice beyond the initial? Are we seeking Him and open to new steps? For the promise is unfolding in the closeness to our Promise-Giver!
For Anna was alone, but lived faithfully. Luke 2:36-37
Married for only 7 years when her husband passed, she had a decision to make. She could have allow the pain to grip her and feelings of betrayal towards God to direct her path or choose to devote every moment to Him. She chose the faithful route. Luke 2:36-37 Night and day she wrapped herself in devotion to God. And one day, in His presence, God in flesh was brought near her. The song of her heart was sung directly to the one who would later, be on a cross, removing the weight of sin that held up the world. This one moment was encountered after decades of worship. Days upon days of faithfulness were met in one passing. And her heart was yet moved to be one of the first evangelists the world would meet. Luke 2:38 How long will we be dedicated? How long will our worship ring on? Will our hope be fulfilled in His presence day and night or will we find other things to fill us as we go? For Anna found her delight in God’s equipping, not of the equipment that the world gave. Before He performed a single miracle, she knew that He himself was the miracle. And this brought about her expression to proclaim His Lordship before Jesus was even able to walk-out goodness on the earth. But God had always been good even before He walked out the fullness of His plan. Are we able to proclaim His goodness to those around us, even when we haven’t seen the plan come to completion? Do we trust in what has already been done? Do we see Him as being enough for us to share in the fullness within our activities? For no matter the ending, “He who began a good work in us will continue it until the revealing of the Lord!” Philippians 1:6