At Christmas, we are reminded God can do anything. Young Mary was a virgin. She had saved herself for her future husband. But her world turned upside down when an angel said she was going to conceive and give birth anyway. Needless to say, that made her scratch her head and wonder how this would happen. After explaining that God was going to do a miracle in her life, the angel said in Luke 1:37, "For with God, nothing shall be impossible." Isn't that awesome?! God can do anything, anywhere, anytime, with anyone that He wants. I find a lot of comfort in knowing God is all-powerful and without limits. That lets me know that whatever we all go through, God can more than handle it. He's omnipotent, and that's a vital truth to keep in mind.
At Christmas, we are reminded that God's plans are better than our plans. Joseph was engaged to Mary. He didn't understand everything that was going on, but he did know this: Mary was pregnant, and the child was definitely not his. So, understandably, Joseph was going to quietly walk away from the relationship. But an angel appeared to Joseph, explained the situation, and encouraged Joseph to stick around. The Heavenly being told the struggling fiancé to take Mary as his wife and help raise the baby she was carrying. Now Joseph had a choice. He could live his own way and leave Mary, or he could live God's way and keep her and the unborn child in his life. In Matthew 1:24, we see that Joseph "did as an angel of the Lord commanded him." What a smart move! He chose to live God's way. And because Joseph followed God's plan, he got to witness the birth of Mary's miraculous child, name that child, and raise him in his own home. Joseph experienced amazing, life-changing joys because he lived out God's perfect will instead of his own. And so will we if we do the same. Sooner or later, we will get a blessing if we follow God's plan for our lives.
At Christmas we are reminded that God is in the saving business. In Matthew 1:21, the angel told Joseph to name the baby "Jesus" because "He will save His people from their sins." And in 1 John 4:14 we read, "The Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world." Amen to that! We've all sinned. We've all done wrong. And we're all guilty. But Christmas is special because it's when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, who came here to save us from our sins. He saved us by paying for our sins on a cross. Because of Jesus, we are forgiven and rescued for all of eternity. What a blessing! God loves us enough to send His Son, Jesus, here to save us. That's the best gift we've ever received.
So those are three reasons why Christmas matters. God can do anything. God's plans are better than our plans. And God is in the saving business. That's more than enough cause to celebrate!! And that ought to light a fire of joy in our hearts.
God is good. All the time. May we remember this at Christmas and all the other days of the year.
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