What plans did you recently have that did not turn out as you expected? It happens to all of us; we make plans, and God laughs. For the past 3 months, Carah and I have planned to go to San Luis Obispo for Thanksgiving. The day before we left, Carah felt slightly “off.” By Wednesday night, I was sick, too. On Thanksgiving, we never got out of bed, except for the emergency run for the bathroom.
By Saturday, we began to feel better and got home excited because we received a fantastic gift to see the King & Country Chrismas Concert in LA with food and hotel provided. This gift became the hope amid our destroyed plans in San Luis Obispo. On Sat night, we went out with old friends and had a wonderful evening. We came home early to get up early and drive to LA.
That night, I was not tired, and as the evening turned to late night and early morning, I was still awake. However, now my feet were on fire, and my stomach was bloated, but I was determined. By 5 am, I was still awake, and the reality that I had relapsed was setting in. Our plans were once again destroyed by illness. This Bible verse has just been running through my mind.
Pro 16:9The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.
Since being back to work, I have been confronted with the fact that the birth of the Messiah was not the way Israel thought it would happen. Not in a million years would the bloodline include prostitutes, drunks, philanderers, and outsiders of the Jewish bloodlines. There would be no way that anything good could come from Nazareth. Let’s be honest: what would you think if I told you something so needed and pure was coming from Stockton, CA?
How many times have you read the account of the Birth of Jesus? 10, 100, 1000 times? I find my heart becomes hardened to the Advent story due to repetition, which makes me sad because I know God’s word is living and active. I am seeking the Holy Spirit to guide me into a part of this fantastic story my blind eyes have missed in the past.
It is so easy to become a modern-day Pharisee and miss what the Lord has for each of us this Christmas Season. I pray for myself and all of you that the Spirit would fall down on us as we open Mathew and Luke to read this incredible story. “Lord, please bless us all with fresh eyes, Amen!” See you on Sunday. Come with eager eyes and a soft heart.
In Him,
Pastor Chris