“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).
I’ve been thinking about Mary. She knew her baby was the Son of God. She knew He was to be called “Jesus” because He would save His people from their sin. She must have planned to make His birth a special time. Maybe she got the best swaddling clothes she could find. I imagine she had planned for the best midwife or perhaps her mother to be with her. Most likely Joseph had built a special crib for Him. She must have thought about this birth and what it would be like. But whatever her plans were they were changed.
God’s plan didn’t change. God had said through the prophets hundreds of years before the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph were the means of carrying out his plan. Jesus’ birth happened at just the right time and in the right place.
My family had planned to spend Christmas on the farm this year, but that isn’t happening. We’ll actually celebrate Christmas before the 25th and we’ll do it in TN. Our plans changed. I felt like having a pity party and did, for a few minutes. But the reason for the change of plans was the difficulties being experienced by the TN family. I had to remember that the situation wasn’t about me. I had to move on with the next plan.
God never promised our plans wouldn’t change. He did promise to always be with us through whatever situations or plan changes we have in our lives. God’s timing is always right. I have to trust Him to work through me as He did through Mary and Joseph.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Christmas at the farm would have been wonderful…and Christmas in Tennessee will be wonderful because “where you are, God is.”
Emmanuel with us! Awesome! Joy to the world!