Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
The proverb says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). God is sovereign over all, orchestrating the events of world history. We see this vividly demonstrated when it was time for Jesus to be born.
They are called “The Silent Years.” During the four hundred long years between the last book of the Old Testament and the coming of Jesus, there were no prophets, angels delivering messages, or word from God. Then…at just the right time…
Tiny hands waving about uncontrollably. A shrill cry piercing the damp air of a borrowed cave. A mother’s peaceful smile. A mysterious smile on the face of her husband, who helped deliver a miracle. And the Word became flesh: God confined to an infant.
John the Baptist made his days count. He lived life “plain and simple”–camel hair clothes and a leather belt; roasted locusts (surely, he didn’t eat them raw) and wild honey to eat. But what impresses me most is that John the Baptist was a man who knew his purpose. He was on earth to prepare the world for Jesus, and he never wavered. He lived with a spiritual focus. Isn’t that the kind of life you want to live?
The Christmas story seems so peaceful and silent night-ish. A baby is born and laid in a manger. But this was no ordinary birth and no ordinary baby. The old prophet Simeon noted that this child would cause the rise and fall of many.
They were minding their sheep and minding their business when the angel suddenly appeared. In an instant, the darkness of night turned to brilliant light. The angel, coming from the presence of God, brought with him God’s glory, and the place lit up! There was light in the darkness! No wonder the shepherds were terrified! Let’s read their story.