We would have quit.
This is one of those topics that really should not have to be addressed in Church. But again and again, we’ve missed the point and continue to seek definition and identity through other means. I’m talking of course about the word “Blessing.”
This time of year holds many “blessings” whether you’re a Christ-follower or not. We gather around family, there is a general air of good-will towards men, and gifts fly off the shelves and into fancy wrapping paper fit only for ceremonial decimation on Christmas morning.
We are quick to call that “Blessed” and enjoy the time of relative peace. That is until someone at the family dinner brings up politics.
I wonder how we would fare in the actual Christmas narrative… Would we be so quick to throw the word “blessed” around if we were really involved?
Now, lets be honest with each other… the church answer is a resounding YES! How dare you, blog-writing-pastor, suggest we would not call the birth and immediate ripples of the birth of the Messiah anything BUT a Blessing?!!
Easy – if it were us we would quit. Plain and simple quit. If you look at the Christmas narrative from our Western Comfort Culture we probably wouldn’t last a day going through what Joseph and Mary went through.
— Joseph’s reputation was destroyed by sticking with unfaithful Mary. Really, who would believe it was the Holy Spirit that got his soon to be wife pregnant?
— Mary had to face (or hear about second hand) all the gossip about her faithfulness and integrity.
— They stuck that out and then had to travel to Bethlehem close enough to the due date that modern doctors would prescribe bed rest and travel restrictions.
— They got there so late that everything was so full, their reservations were given to someone else… Joseph was stuck taking literally the only place with a roof for his wife who was about to deliver their first child!
— No mid-wife (unless you count the cow). No clean blankets or hot water. Just a curious crowd of animals to physically witness the birth of the Messiah.
— The first visitors we have record of were not their parents (newly minted grandparents, no less)… but shepherds. Stinky, poor shepherds.
— Come to find out, after they get some swanky gifts from the oddly dressed wisemen that the king wants to kill the boy so they have to run……… to Egypt. Remember how long Israel wanted OUT of Egypt? Now their deliverer was back there.
We would have quit. I almost quit writing those points out.
In all of this chaos comes the one thing we won’t expect unless we look close: Peace.
Joseph and Mary raised not one cry of protest – they found peace in God’s promise.
We find the same peace in God’s presence on this earth. We must stop looking for peace in all the wrong places. This world has nothing to offer us in that realm – only God provides. It may look like chaos, it may look like a season of difficulty… but the peace that passes understanding is here.
Philippians 4: 4 – 7 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.