Daily devotion – God’s story to you.
Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
Christmas time is for many an emotional time. For varied reasons, such as the remembering of loved one’s no longer with us, or the inability for families now to be able to simply gather for the Christmas season as we live so apart from one another these days.
The first Christmas for Joseph and Mary is a story that I recommend you read slowly from now on leading up to Christmas Eve. There is so much our minds gloss over due to our annual awareness of the Christmas story. The first Christmas is a deeply moving narrative that requires prayer and careful study, digging below the story’s surface. We think of the journey for example of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem – a four-day journey over 145 kms. We imagine a peaceful meandering, beautiful evenings, restful stops in idyllic locations.
But this was instead a difficult journey for all. Mary was late in her pregnancy – back aching intensely, uncomfortable, imagine sitting on a donkey that far. Joseph, his world has exploded as Mary and the Lord reveals that his precious Mary is pregnant with the Son of God the promised Messiah!
They would attempt to travel about 30 kms per day if possible. No paved roads, the journey over rugged terrain, at night it would be freezing cold. The danger of wild animals such as lions and bears was always on Joseph’s mind. Unsavoury travellers on the way, potential robbers or bandits – remembering Joseph is a simple carpenter from a little county town.
Well at least when they arrive in Bethlehem, there will be a nice bed waiting, warm water to clean and wash and somewhere nice to prepare for the birth of Mary’s precious first born.
We know that is not what was waiting for them.
This week, will you take time, if you have family, gather them and begin to take them on the journey of Joseph and Mary. Tell the story of wonder how Christ the Son of God was going to be born. We need to read over the Christmas story in detail, to take time to imbed ourselves in the sights, sounds and senses that it covers.
For this is God’s story about us. About God sending His Son to us to save us!
Christmas is the wonder of God’s love revealed in the birth of a little baby in a cave in Bethlehem. It’s God’s story to you!