Does anybody besides me find the story of the birth of Messiah, Jesus the Christ, to border on the absurd? After approximately one thousand and some (perhaps ten to fifteen) odd years after David is anointed by Samuel and years later when God announces to him, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2Samuel 7:16), God fulfills this prophesy by placing the only Beloved in the arms of a teenage-out-of-wedlock-mother. Really? And get this? Luke wraps up the whole birth scene in two short paragraphs. Huh? Seriously, I could write an entire book—okay, at least a condensed very wordy short story—about each of the births in which I participated. Trust me, these are HUGE events. Luke just barely hits the highlights . . . she gives birth. . . wraps him up. . . places him in a manger. Oh yeah, because apparently all the hotel (inn) rooms are full because of this blasted census that Rome has decreed. Don’t even get us started about the government that has us under its thumb. (Sound familiar?)
Then the grand announcement is given to shepherds. Seriously, if you are an angel wouldn’t you think you were going to be sent to the grand halls of the capital of the Roman world? But a field near Bethlehem--huh--did I hear that right? I happen to believe the angels thought this had to be some sort of joke as well. After all, they had seen Him in His glory—just before. . . just before this? The very God---indeed, the fullness of the Godhead bodily-- is going to be dropped off in this obscure, nasty town and the only ones to hear about it are some smelly shepherds. Really? I know I’ve said that before here—but I mean it—really? So picture it. A day just like every other day before . . . just doing what you do. . . watching sheep, trying to earn a living, complaining about this or that or what-have-you. And suddenly—and suddenly—your world is invaded by a host of angels announcing the fulfillment of hundreds of years of waiting. Did the shepherds laugh? ‘Cause I think I would’ve laughed—that is, right after I got through wetting myself ‘cause of the fear and all. Then I would’ve laughed and probably God would have reminded me of Sarah (and Abraham) and how that whole laughing thing didn’t go so well. But really. . . (there’s that word again).
So, what’s the takeaway? I’m not too sure, because it seems there could be so many. And I need to resist drawing conclusions that may in fact not be accurate. One thing seems certain, God doesn’t do things they way I would. That seems obvious. I announced every one of my childrens’ births to as many people as I could. Newspapers, personalized announcements with pretty bows for the girls, manly baby blue for the boys. And if the whole world is God’s stage it seems to me He could have sent out a broader announcement. But something else weird sticks with me. God really meant that whole thing about using “the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1Cor. 27). God seems to be okay with advancing His kingdom through ordinary people like us. You know the ones. . . the ones working in sawmills or factories. . . in fields raising hogs or growing corn. . . or us who are at home washing load after load of laundry and are you kidding me? You can’t be hungry---WE JUST ATE!!! Making another meal that will be devoured in thirty-seconds and then, more dishes.
Perhaps, this should cause us Americans to pause—we who have made rock stars out of our “Christian leaders”. We who think that a successful church is one that has thousands of members --or whose members all act alike and think alike. I mean, heaven forbid that you like courting while I prefer “dating with boundaries”. Or please, contemporary music cannot hold a candle to hymns. Really, if you don’t use a hymnal once during worship then—probably it’s not worship. Ouch! I’m so glad that Peter and Paul thought alike, aren’t you? Wait—oh, never mind. One takeaway might just be that we can relax a bit. God seems secure enough in His Godness to trust us with living in and thus, growing His kingdom. After all, He realizes (and perhaps we need a fresh reminder) that it is “God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (2Phil. 2:13). He really did send the Holy Spirit—it is His work, not ours. Relax—breathe deeply. It is His work!!! And perhaps one more takeaway just might be to expect the unexpected. How many days had the shepherd done what they do. Did they ever dream that God might just fulfill His biggest promise to the entire world-- to them-- on this, just another day? What about you? Waiting for anything God’s promised to you? Weary of another day—just like every other day? Who knows, God may just decide one day to scare the living daylights outta you when He breaks through with a promise fulfilled. I bet you’ll say, Really? Really? Well, right after you clean yourself up a bit.
Then the grand announcement is given to shepherds. Seriously, if you are an angel wouldn’t you think you were going to be sent to the grand halls of the capital of the Roman world? But a field near Bethlehem--huh--did I hear that right? I happen to believe the angels thought this had to be some sort of joke as well. After all, they had seen Him in His glory—just before. . . just before this? The very God---indeed, the fullness of the Godhead bodily-- is going to be dropped off in this obscure, nasty town and the only ones to hear about it are some smelly shepherds. Really? I know I’ve said that before here—but I mean it—really? So picture it. A day just like every other day before . . . just doing what you do. . . watching sheep, trying to earn a living, complaining about this or that or what-have-you. And suddenly—and suddenly—your world is invaded by a host of angels announcing the fulfillment of hundreds of years of waiting. Did the shepherds laugh? ‘Cause I think I would’ve laughed—that is, right after I got through wetting myself ‘cause of the fear and all. Then I would’ve laughed and probably God would have reminded me of Sarah (and Abraham) and how that whole laughing thing didn’t go so well. But really. . . (there’s that word again).
So, what’s the takeaway? I’m not too sure, because it seems there could be so many. And I need to resist drawing conclusions that may in fact not be accurate. One thing seems certain, God doesn’t do things they way I would. That seems obvious. I announced every one of my childrens’ births to as many people as I could. Newspapers, personalized announcements with pretty bows for the girls, manly baby blue for the boys. And if the whole world is God’s stage it seems to me He could have sent out a broader announcement. But something else weird sticks with me. God really meant that whole thing about using “the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1Cor. 27). God seems to be okay with advancing His kingdom through ordinary people like us. You know the ones. . . the ones working in sawmills or factories. . . in fields raising hogs or growing corn. . . or us who are at home washing load after load of laundry and are you kidding me? You can’t be hungry---WE JUST ATE!!! Making another meal that will be devoured in thirty-seconds and then, more dishes.
Perhaps, this should cause us Americans to pause—we who have made rock stars out of our “Christian leaders”. We who think that a successful church is one that has thousands of members --or whose members all act alike and think alike. I mean, heaven forbid that you like courting while I prefer “dating with boundaries”. Or please, contemporary music cannot hold a candle to hymns. Really, if you don’t use a hymnal once during worship then—probably it’s not worship. Ouch! I’m so glad that Peter and Paul thought alike, aren’t you? Wait—oh, never mind. One takeaway might just be that we can relax a bit. God seems secure enough in His Godness to trust us with living in and thus, growing His kingdom. After all, He realizes (and perhaps we need a fresh reminder) that it is “God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (2Phil. 2:13). He really did send the Holy Spirit—it is His work, not ours. Relax—breathe deeply. It is His work!!! And perhaps one more takeaway just might be to expect the unexpected. How many days had the shepherd done what they do. Did they ever dream that God might just fulfill His biggest promise to the entire world-- to them-- on this, just another day? What about you? Waiting for anything God’s promised to you? Weary of another day—just like every other day? Who knows, God may just decide one day to scare the living daylights outta you when He breaks through with a promise fulfilled. I bet you’ll say, Really? Really? Well, right after you clean yourself up a bit.
What are your takeaways from this story--really--write me!!
Journeying on,
Joy
1 comment:
I think my biggest problem is taking the time to expect"anything". I hope the Holy Spirit is working towards the promise that I forgot to expect. recon what it will be?
I love your writing, but most of all lI love you!!!
Mom
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