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Bum Deal At Christmas?
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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Life of Jacob
Once in a while at Christmastime I catch myself complaining- about
little things, inconveniences, mainly. "I don't need this
now," I mutter, and wonder, "Why does this have to happen
to me? Is God mad at me?" Then my thoughts turn to Mary
and Joseph. Face it. Their story doesn't center on sugar cookies
and egg nog.
- Joseph was off work for weeks because the government made
him travel to a distant town to fill out some stupid registration
papers.
- You can bet the Nazareth biddies hounded Mary
about her pregnancy. Have you ever been called "slut"?
- Can you imagine taking a four-day donkey ride to Bethlehem
at full term? Of course, if Mary didn't want to ride, she could
always walk ... or waddle.
- Think about a camping trip with
winter winds whistling through your tent. Or do you have a tent?
- How about being in labor in a dirty cattle barn? One whiff
was all Mary needed.
- And then, in the middle of the night
after a grueling labor, there's a herdsman banging on the door
Why, of all things, did God let His own Son to be born under
those conditions? Was God mad at Mary and Joseph? Of course
not. Maybe God allowed the stable so we could see His glory backlit
amidst life's humbling experiences.
Life does have its downside, its reversals, its annoyances. And
where is God when we despair? He was with Mary and Joseph every
moment, working out His plan, just as He is with you and me right
now.
I guess Christmas reminds us look to beyond our aggravations.
God is doing something. You know, if we'll lift our eyes above
Bethlehem's hovels for a moment, we might even catch a glimpse
of the Christmas star.
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Copyright © 1985-2009 Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor
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