“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
We all know the real reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ, but have you ever thought about his birth as an inconvenience? Think about the questions you would have been asking if you were Mary or Joseph:
God don’t we have enough to deal with? I mean we have to travel to Bethlehem, can’t you wait until we are home in Nazareth? Why can’t we even have a room, this is your son?
Luke 2:4-6
Our culture has done a great job at conditioning us to expect convenience, that instant gratification mentality. It’s almost like we believe we are entitled to it. Advertisements often emphasize convenience and when we want things we want it now.
Now back to Jesus. Just as the Christmas story tells God doesn’t make life more convenient for us. The Bible proves this when you read about those close to him who were often challenged and inconvenienced in life.
It’s easy to struggle with this concept because we want life to fit into our plans and expectations. And during the holiday season is no exception as we get can often get caught up in the hustle and bustle of parties, shopping and celebrations. But God’s agenda can often upset yours, offering you a choice.
We can choose to be angry or annoyed with the inconvenience put in place or we can surrender our schedules to God. When we ask for God’s will to be fulfilled in our lives we find joy and obedience in the midst of conflict.
Comment questions:
• How is God inconvenienced your life and how have you reacted?
• How can you be sure to remain joyful in this holiday season?
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