Wow, God! (An Advent Journey)Sample

WOW, GOD. YOU GET THE JOB DONE

Experience

It’s getting close. The preparations are complete. Well, almost complete. It’s been quite the season, hasn’t it? Today, I’m really focusing on the traditional Christmas story. It always makes me laugh a little, Mary and Joseph. They weren’t very old. It’s not in the Bible specifically, but the story’s usually told about them coming into this new town on a donkey. I always picture the animal having too much energy, being difficult to ride. And the trip probably being five days. 

I think about this young couple trying to find a room. Mary is very pregnant. There is no place to stay. I can only guess what she’s thinking about the situation: “My husband has one job - find a place for us to sleep!” He probably would have just slept outside with some friends if he had been alone. But now he’s got a wife. A pregnant wife. He does find some shelter, but it’s with the animals. Was anyone allergic to the dander? And then Mary goes into labor. Can you imagine? Imagine Joseph thinking, “She has one job - make this baby wait!” But then the baby was born. And that baby is Jesus. God had one job, and this was how He was going to do it. 

Wow, God. You get the job done.

Respond

Jesus came into the world the way God planned. He arrived at the exact moment God planned. His way, in His time. “A decree went out...to register all the empire for taxes… Everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth...to the city... called Bethlehem... He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:2-7) God works in your life this way, too - in His way, in His time. He will get the job done. Just like the Christmas story, your circumstances might not seem right for God to work. But if you have faith in Him, God will get His job done in your life. 

Pray

Dear God, show me how to let You do Your job in my life. Help me to know it will be in Your time. Amen.