Lake Eufaula Christian Church
When an inconvenience interrupts our lives, we have options on how to deal with it. We can embrace the inconvenience, knowing we can’t always be in control, or we can stubbornly decide to keep doing things the way we always have, refusing to change the way we’re obviously being urged to do. Let’s examine these options in light of the Christmas story.
We sometimes do the Christmas story a disservice due to its familiarity. More times than not, we romanticize the events of the nativity but, if you stop and think about it, living through those events would have been dreadfully difficult.
A teenage girl was rocked by scandal— even though she did nothing wrong. A couple was uprooted from their home, their family, and their support system during the most inconvenient time of their lives.
A king, his power already threatened by Roman occupation, discovered a new king had been born that threatened his authority even more.
Every life touched by the Biblical Christmas Story experienced inconvenience and hardship. Yet, through those difficulties, great opportunities presented themselves— opportunities for peace in the midst of chaos, for powerful influence, and ultimately for the salvation of all humanity.
As we examine what the major characters of the nativity narrative endured while God was shaping a miracle, we’ll hopefully begin to see ourselves in their stories. We’ll also see our opportunities to choose faith within our own problems, not only at Christmas, but all year.
Mary, a very young virgin, was engaged to be married to Joseph when the angel “Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28). Imagine how perplexed Mary was, and how upset she must have been at the angel’s further revelation. “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus…. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1:3133) Even though her whole life was turned upside down, she responded with pure obedience: “I am the Lord’s servant.” But can you imagine how she might have experienced mind-blown hesitation, wondering how Joseph and her family would react to her pregnancy out of wedlock? Her future, her relational status, her reputation— all now hung in the balance.
The holy news was also a disturbance for Joseph. The only logical explanation for Mary’s pregnancy was she had been with another man, and according to the era’s culture, Joseph could have her killed by stoning. Then an angel came to him in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20). Joseph listened, believed, and obeyed.
So, the couple faced their scandalous inconvenience together and accepted God’s plan for their lives. Aren’t the inconveniences we face in life easier to deal with than theirs? Shouldn’t we also treat them as opportunities to trust and worship God?
We attempt to do just that at LECC 10 a.m. small Bible study, 11 a.m. worship, and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday classes for all ages.
Please join us at our convenient location: 415987 Highway 9, Eufaula.
