It never ceases to amaze me how God works wonders and accomplishes His will in ways that are contrary to the ways of men.
For example, if you were planning the most important event of the year for your company or the 100th anniversary celebration for church, you’d pull out all the stops and make it as fashionable and newsworthy as possible. You might even hire celebrities to lend their powers of attraction in order to get more publicity and participation.
And you would probably judge the success of your event by how many people attended and what was said in the news media and on Social Media.
But that’s not how God usually does something, especially if it’s important (as if He ever did something that wasn’t important).
Throughout the Bible, God often chooses the most unlikely prospects to accomplish His set purpose.
This is so evident in the birth of Jesus.
God chooses a carpenter and his soon-to-be wife as the family into which Jesus will be born. They are just normal people by the world’s standards. Nothing impressive as far education, prestigious credentials or family titles. But God looks on their hearts. There He finds pure gold.
It’s true that Joseph is a descendant of King David and some Bible scholars affirm that Mary was as well. That didn’t necessarily garner them any privileges. There could have easily been many descendants of that famous king living in Israel when Jesus was born. I have a friend who is descended from Charlemagne, but that doesn’t get him any special favors these days.
And where is Jesus born?
Where is the King of kings, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace born? In Jerusalem? In a palace? In a place of honor to show forth his importance? We all know the answer: No. He was born in the small village of Bethlehem in a stable, the antithesis of what the world would say was appropriate for a royal birth.
There are no big parties to announce this birth. There are no humanly orchestrated, week-long festivities to celebrate it.
That is not to say however, that God lets this Event of events go un-noticed. He has His own unique way of proclaiming the birth of His Son.
Enter stage right: one angel.
Enter stage right and left: too many angels to count.
And who do these angels appear to and proclaim the news that Christ has come? The religious leaders of the day? The political leaders? The famous and wealthy? Not at all. God announces His Son’s glorious birth to a few shepherds. Of course there is the star that the Wisemen see and follow. Even King Herod has seen it along with many others. But there are no songs and proclamations by the angels accompanying the star.
God does not use the ways and means of mortal men
God has taken the most unworldly way to tell the world that Jesus is born and published the news to the fewest and simplest of normal, everyday people.
This adds to the beauty of the whole story.
What does this say about how God continues to reveal Himself in our world and the kind of people He chooses to fulfill His purpose? God is looking on the hearts of men and women today, and children too. He anoints and appoints those who are ready to serve Him with their whole hearts in sincerity.
As you prepare for the Christmas season with all the hustle and bustle, please take some quiet, prayerful time to let God prepare your heart for His purpose.
God still uses ordinary people to accomplish His will. What will God see in your heart? How will He use you?
Have a blessed Christmas.
