We are wrapping up a series that I think is good enough that it is worth sharing. If you are looking for a Christmas thought, I hope you will find it interesting. If you are a pastor starting to plan for next year, I would be glad to share more notes.
It is called "From uh-oh to ah-ha; the surprising journey of discovery in the Christmas Story".
Do you remember your last uh-oh moment?
Did it lead to an ah-ha moment?
One of my discoveries has been how often uh-oh moments happen in the story of Jesus' birth. Another has been that uh-oh moments and ah-ha moments go together. I am not a fan of uh-oh moments. I would be glad for more ah-ha moments. So, how does God's grace work that kind of transformation?
Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, goes from uh-oh, my prayers for a family are not being heard, to ah-ha, God not only hears our prayers, but answers them. Luke 1:5-20.
Mary goes from uh-oh, I am pregnant, to ah-ha, "Here I am, a servant of the Lord". Then, a little later to "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoice in God, my Savior." Luke 1:26-38.
Joseph goes from uh-oh, my fiancé is pregnant with a kid who is not mine, to ah-ha, God wants me to stay with her and be a dad for the Son of God. Matthew 1:18-25.
The Shepherds go from uh-oh, we are not alone out here in the fields, to ah-ha, Jesus is born for us. Luke 2:8-19.
Mary and Joseph go from uh-oh, we have to make an unexpected trip late in her pregnancy, because of a leader they did not support, to be taxed, to ah-ha, God has shown us his very heart. Luke 2:1-7.
The Wise Men go from uh-oh, we made it as far as Jerusalem, but now we are lost, to ah-ha Jesus is born in Bethlehem. Matthew 2:1-6.
If you are in the midst of an uh-oh moment, I hope that this post will help you keep your eyes, ears, and heart open to the way that God's grace might be leading you to an ah-ha moment of discovery.
Comments