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“There is born to you this day
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
~ Luke 2:10
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The Mystery
Who
would imagine … that the Savior of the world arrive in utter obscurity?
That He would never join the elite or the educated? That He would never
amass an army or a bankroll? That He would never run for political
office or own more than a backpack of clothing? That He would never
have a media campaign and would die after less than three years of
public service?
It’s
a mystery.
Equally
mysterious is the reality that God still comes among us in the guise of
the poor, the uneducated, the obscure, and the unrenowned. All He seeks
is our faith. And while we pursue popularity, fame, recognition, and
applause, He looks for those who have no need for such tinsel. And when
He finds them, He frequently does the unexpected through them.
It’s
a mystery.
And
Jesus comes in the form of a baby—helpless, defenseless, and dependent.
Why not arrive ready for action? Why not come available to launch the
ultimate plan immediately? Years and years would pass before He began
“His ministry.” Was the Father in no hurry to redeem the world? Why put
the entire strategy at risk by sending a vulnerable baby?
It’s
a mystery.
Equally
mysterious is God’s timing in our lives. He never seems to share our
hurry. Danger and vulnerability don’t seem to influence Him. When we’d
like to jump into action and get the job down, His plan invariably
looks different and takes longer. When we feel the pressure of time and
the urgency of the moment, He doesn’t. And He invites us to let go of
our best wisdom and simply trust His.
It’s
a mystery.
The
Christmas story reminds us of the mystery of God … and calls us to
enter it with our own lives; the mystery of His plan and the mystery of
His timing. May we do so with increasing faith as we face a new year.
In
HOPE --
David
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