Luke chapter two is probably the
most well known chapter in all the bible thanks to Linus and Mr. Charles Sholtz.
In fact, I bet some of you may have it pretty much memorized simply by watching,
A Charlie Brown Christmas over and over again:
So, when I discovered that I was
to write on this chapter this week, I went straight to the Lord for help on
what to write, and He didn’t disappoint, for He wants you to know that He is
the God of small beginnings.
Have you ever looked upon a need
and wondered just what you could do being only one person with all your list of
short-comings?
When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.” She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant. The angel told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus. He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever, and his kingdom will never end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? … Luke 1:28-34
She of course went on to accept all the angel had told her.
Joseph could also relate, for he was just a poor carpenter betrothed to Mary, who thought to secretly divorce Mary, until the angel told him the plan in a dream. (Mt 1:18-24)
I wonder how many of us would have chosen Joseph and Mary to bear the Son of God!?
And certainly not in Bethlehem! “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” – Micah 5:2
In a stable, mind you.
And rather than the host of angels announcing His birth to the world, or at the very least the royalty of the world, God chose the lowliest of men; mere shepherds keeping watch over their flocks while the rest of the world slept. (Luke 2:8-15)
When it came time to dedicate Jesus, God’s Son- the King of kings and Lord of lords, Joseph and Mary could only offer the poorest of offerings – two turtledoves, or young pigeons. (Luke 2:24)
And what of Simeon? He was simply a man that God chose to reveal the Messiah to. And Anna? An old widow, who had spent most of her life in the Temple.
All of these simple people and simple beginnings. Nothing fancy, no fanfare! (Except the announcement to the shepherds perhaps) This was how our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ chose to come to us as the Messiah, the Savior of the whole world!!
I believe I would have come up with another plan, much more grander perhaps, but the Lord did show me something else they all had in common... something of great worth to God… a heart that loved Him ... was ready and eager to follow Him, and rejoiced along with Him over His coming!
How about you? Has God called you to something? Do you wonder at times, why? Are you in the days of small beginnings even now?
The Lord is rejoicing to see the work He will produce through you. BUT, don’t take my word for it, look in the Bible … Moses had gotten off to a horrible start murdering an Egyptian and then running away. David began his time in a field tending sheep. Nehemiah rebuilt the walls around Jerusalem with a remnant despite the opposition and the odds. And need I mention Jesus disciples and all God was able to do through them! The Bible is full of examples of God using “the foolish things of the world to confound the wise”. (1 Cor 1:27)
If you are wondering, “why me?” or find yourself in the days of small beginnings, take heart! The Lord is excited to see the work begin in you, and He who has called you to the work is faithful to strengthen your hands to do it, (1Thes 5:24). He will also send helpers into the ministry should you need them, and will be faithful to help you in whatever task He has set before you (Phil 2:13)! He will encourage you through His Spirit and with His Word, and will provide all of you need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!
He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it (1 Thess. 5:23). Just ask any of those God chose to be there when He came down to earth as our Savior!
Blessings!
sue
