Context
When I was in college, a nomadic cult group wandered through our campus. They had some strange ideas which came out as we engaged them in conversation. One of the young girls in the group was "great with child" and claimed that she was a virgin - a modern-day virgin birth. Guess what? Not a single one of us Bible-believing, miracle-affirming Christians gave even a split second's credence to her story. We did not believe her.
Neither did anyone believe Mary when she told them that the angel had appeared to her and that the baby within her was of the Holy Spirit. Don't judge her - you wouldn't have believed her either! That is likely why she was sent away to visit Elizabeth in Luke 1. And in this reading, Joseph was going to break their betrothal because of his suspicions. But God sent the angel to him to tell him that her story was true and that he was called to be the earthly father of the heavenly child.
It seems a little strange to read this in January, after the tree is down, the decorations are put away, and most of the kids presents are broken, doesn't it? The story that we read every year at our Christmas Eve service has lessons for us year round, of course.
Devotional - Just Like You and Me
Joseph was a stunningly handsome man who made all the girls in Nazareth swoon. Mary walked through the streets of the village with her halo shining brightly, giving light to all in the dark nights. Right? We have created massive fictional accounts of the lives of these two people that elevate them - no, we do more than that. We glorify them, even deify them. In some circles, Mary has been honored to the point in which she is viewed as spiritual superwoman, the saintliest of all saints.
When we do that we miss the whole point of the Christmas story, of the gospel story itself. God could have chosen the daughter of the high priest or of some rich, powerful person to be the mother of his Son. He did not. He chose a normal, average, peasant woman. She was no different than any other woman in Nazareth. Joseph was not voted most likely to succeed in high school and Mary was not Miss Congeniality at the county fair. They were normal. Average. Nobodies. Just like everyone else.
That is crucial to our story!
God is not a talent scout looking for the best and the brightest he can recruit for his kingdom. He's not looking for the cool kids he can invite to sit at his table. That's not how he works. He selects Mary and Joseph, not Brad and Angelina. God uses nobodies, average folks like you and me to accomplish his wonderful works.
When we deify Mary or elevate her to status beyond what she was we miss the point. God does not need my talents, he simply needs me to be obedient and willing! He has all the power, all the creativity, all the wisdom necessary to accomplish his purposes. He simply wants to glorify himself and use me in the the process. I need only be a "living sacrifice" - ready, willing, and able.
Take comfort, my average, ordinary friend! We have an extraordinary God who does extraordinary things through ordinary folks who walk in obedience to him.
Thank you, Lord, that kingdom success rests not on my talents or abilities, but on you! I give myself as a living sacrifice to obey you.Think about It
Remember that these were real people, not superheroes in a fictional story. Joseph and Mary were peasants who had never seen anything out of the ordinary when God began to work this work in them. Consider how stunning God's call was - it required a total change in their lives.
Write down how Mary and Joseph's lives might have changed as a result of the work of God - both good and bad. Obedience brings both blessings and hardships. But serving God is always best.
Are there areas of your life in which you are struggling to trust God and to follow his will, his plan? Do you believe that God's will, as hard as it might be, is always best?
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