FAITH AND OBEDIENCE ON CHRISTMAS EVE (Advent 28)

LUKE 2: 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (NIV)

Did you watch History Channel’s special on where and when Jesus was probably born? Those discussions are interesting to the left side of the brain’s logic centers. But, faith is not about logic; it’s about belief. Even the Queen’s Official Birthday does not fall on the actual date of her birth but we know she lives. Whether Jesus lived in Nazareth or Bethlehem and whether the shepherd’s were in the fields in one month or another is irrelevant to our belief in Christ Jesus. We know he was born into a family that was obedient to God. Joseph obeyed the law and took his espoused wife to the town of his heritage to be registered for tax. Mary obeyed the Lord God and conceived a child. The passage in Luke 2 is about obedience to God. But, there is no doubt about the birth of Jesus the Christ Child. The evidence is all around us. Two-thousand-years ago baby Jesus was born and the entire world changed! Let us be true to God (obedient) and see how our lives, our world, will change with faith and belief in Him. Let us pray:

“Father God, you sent your son Jesus Christ to earth so we might be freed from our human nature. Holy is He whose earthly father prepared a place for Mary to rest and give birth on this blessed Christmas Eve. The silent night was transformed into angel song and the sky burst forth with the light of a single star. We thank you for Christ, our savior, dear God. May this Holy Christmas Eve be the time we pause to hear the animals breathe, smell the freshness of manger hay, and see the miracle of Christ’s birth all around us. He brought forgiveness over revenge, benevolence over selfishness, and peace of soul over restless seeking. We bow before the Christmas Child who brought hope and redemption to the world. May we be an instrument of His peace and carrier of your infectious love, oh God. In the name of Jesus, the Christmas Child, we pray. Amen”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2011 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.