Pastor's
Devotion—December 2008
HE MAKES IT WORTHWHILE
I wonder how it was like for Mary and Joseph–that first Christmas, over 2000 years ago.
The only references that may perhaps, answer my ponderings–will have to come from Scripture.
For months, they'd endured the scorn and shame of their neighbours, of being found to be pregnant before being officially wed (Matthew 1:18-19). In addition, they had to travel from Nazareth, Galilee to Bethlehem, Judea–due to a census that was being taken by Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1-3). Nobody likes to make a long distance travel, on donkey-back (not horseback, nor even automobile, mind you), whilst heavily pregnant.
Through it all, it is obedience to the will of God that drives them on, amidst all these obstacles.
Mary had accepted the duty bestowed upon her through the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:38) when it all started. Likewise, Joseph had submitted himself to God's will, after God revealed His plan to him through a dream (Matthew 1:24-25).
It'd not been a walk in the park since their acceptance of this holy task, as we can see. But finally, it comes to the point whereby Mary experiences the first of contractions and like any pregnant woman about to deliver–they gradually increase in shortened intervals, till the point of culmination. She tells Joseph, no doubt- and they start looking for a place to have the child in busy Bethlehem.
Perhaps (now this is a conjecture) they'd thought "Finally, the Child is to be born. The moment we were waiting for is now here, all we suffered for–is about to come to an end, with His birth."
But, get this, they find no decent place to deliver the child–the only available place for baby Jesus turns out to be, a manger to rest in–for there was no place for them at the inn (Luke 2:7).
As I read this, I wondered: "Lord! Isn't this just too much? Isn't this a tad unfair?" "Haven't they suffered enough for being obedient? It's not like they did something wrong and are being punished! They're being obedient to Your will! Why not, at least give them a decent place to deliver the Child?"
How's life been for you, since you said yes to our Lord? Perhaps it hasn't been a bed of roses, nor a walk in the park. Perhaps you've driven yourself on with the hope of God that since you said yes to His call, one day everything will be alright.
But recent developments in life, have seemed to dig a bigger hole for you to sink into–things just seem to get tougher and tougher - and you wonder, when will the Lord do as He promised?
If that's you- hold on. Because what comes after the storm, makes it worth enduring.
I've been through tough times of late–times whereby I've been so tired that I felt like calling it a day, and it was during one of these days, when I came across a bookmark at Borders bookstore.
Its message was so timely, that I snapped it up immediately (and I'm not a bookmark type of person).
Here's what it said:
Don't quit when the tide is lowest,
For it's just about to turn.
Don't quit over doubts and questions,
For there's something you may learn.
Don't quit when the night is darkest,
For it's just a while 'til dawn;
Don't quit when you've run the farthest
For the race is almost won.
Don't quit when the hill is steepest,
For your goal is almost nigh;
Don't quit, for you're not a failure
Until you fail to try
–Jill Wolf
And on the back of this bookmark- I wrote the words: "Don't quit in life's difficult good fridays, they lead to glorious easter sundays."
Joseph and Mary's endurance of the harsh times they had to undergo, culminated that 1st Christmas night, in the birth of Christ.
They had ringside seats to His glory, and watched as shepherds and Magi came by to worship Immanuel–God with us. What an awesome sight it must've been!
Once you've said yes to God- trust that He will carry you through. No matter the sufferings, don't turn back, the fulfilment of the task will be worth the trials of the journey. Galatians 6:9 says: "Let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (NIV)
Don't give up, my friend. I didn't.
And so, I invite you to join me, as we continually trust our lives into His hands all over again, each and every day–and affirm that whatever storms life might bring, in the forms of people or situations, that God will be with us, as He was with Mary, Joseph, Abraham, Moses, Samson, Elijah (and the list goes on and on).
I believe that if we follow Him, we will not be disappointed. Feel its been tough since you said yes to God?
Go on, read it yourself. Let the story of the couple who said yes to God and their account of that 1st Christmas, be your encouragement this day
Rev Joel Yong