Easter is the end of this month so I decided to focus on Christ's journey to the cross.
So often we start the Easter story with the events that took place in the Upper room, but I want to go back to what seemed to most people, a silent night in a little town called Bethlehem.
Our Scripture this week is from Luke 2: 1-18
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,[a] who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold,[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely[d] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
I have heard some say it wasn't a silent night and with Bethlehem packed to the gills with people, maybe it wasn't but the fact that the Bible only mentions the shepherds coming to see the Savior, I am afraid most of the people who were closest to being able to see Him was oblivious. And the craziest thing? I am sure many of those people had been waiting most of their lives for their promised Messiah. I always try to avoid too much speculation because I don't want to lead anyone to confuse my speculation with Biblical fact; but WHAT IF Mary and Joseph would have told the innkeeper they were about to give birth to the Savior of the world?
I'm afraid we live in a world where people seem to think you have to prove everything to them. Unfortunately, there is a tremendous amount of proof and there are many people who still refuse to accept the truth. Mary and Joseph had seen so many miraculous things in the past few months. They were both visited by Gabriel, Mary's older cousin became pregnant, Zechariah was struck dumb just to name a few (other than the obvious that they knew Mary was a virgin). They knew what was going on and I believe they were trusting God whole-heartedly to provide a place for His child to be born. He didn't promise them any of this would be easy. He just promised them they were the ones to bring our Savior into the world.
There are so many parallels in our lives with that historic night in Bethlehem. The world goes by and it seems a lot of people are looking for "that one thing". The voices in your head say, "If I just had a better car, I would be happy", "If I just had more money, I would be happy", "If I could just lose 50 lbs, I would be happy". They all know something is missing in their lives but can't put their finger on it. Everything they think they need requires something that normally a person can't just instantly attain, The saddest part is, what is really missing is that relationship with Christ. I believe there are even Christians out there who don't take advantage of what they could have. It is like wishing you had more money when you have a bank account sitting there with thousands of dollars in it and no checks or ATM cards. All you need to do is go ask the bank and they can help you, but you don't know that.
All you have to do to have that peace and comfort of a relationships with Christ is to just ask!
He has been waiting patiently for you since the day you were born.
In this month of Easter, I am challenging you to do a few things.
First, spend more time on your relationship with Christ. If you already spend time with Him everyday, find a new devotional or a way to deepen your love and knowledge. I am rereading one of my favorites right now, Max Lucado's "He Chose the Nails".
Second, make a prayer list of people in your life and start praying for them daily. Not only people who need Christ, but Christians who need to get closer to Him (I think that is probably most of us). Pray for these people daily and pray God will put you in their way to minister to them.
Last, try each day to live a life worthy of the sacrifice Christ made for us. We know we can't ever be good enough to deserve this sacrifice but our job is to try our best while we are here.
This weeks song is a thought-provoking one. It is from Casting Crowns and it is called, While You were Sleeping.
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