Merry Christmas Everyone!
This beautiful photo was taken by one of our friends at church as we prepared to walk in the Christmas Parade. I have never been to a Christmas Parade before, let alone walked in one! Our beautiful church family carefully designed and assembled this float, and gathered together to walk/ride and sing carols along our main road. It was a wonderful moment of Church unity, but that doesn't mean there weren't challenges along the way…
Coordination was required to gather all of the materials, assemble the float, get it in line for the parade, and communicate the location to all the people planning to meet there. This was unexpectedly trickier than planned, because the location changed several times, and the parking was not anywhere close. Many text messages and gps pins were required to get us all in one place at the right time.
As I think of the abundant technology we had available to help us find this float, I reflect back on how God chose to direct his people to the tiny Savior born in a stable all those years ago. He didn't use text messages or gps, and instead used a Star and the Heavenly Hosts to announce His birth. The star drew a few wise men from out of town, and the angels spoke only to a few shepherds out in the field who happened to be listening. He drew them in their own time to see this newborn king, and we aren't even really sure how long it took them to get there. But we do know that they came, and the world was never the same!
God chose humble beginnings to do something incredible: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14a). While there was no parade announcing His birth back then, His disciples faithfully wrote down the story of what had happened in His Word, so that generations yet to be born would know the Truth of what happened. In a way, the Gospels are even better than gps, because they point not to a specific place on a map, but to a specific person that would become the Savior of the World: Jesus! And He is available to all who seek, no matter how long it takes!
I pray you would seek Him this season. In the midst of the busy and the messy, He is waiting to offer peace that passes all understanding! “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7).
Be blessed this Christmas, by the One who stepped into our mess to bring about Life Everlasting!