What Christmas Teaches Us About God's Plan

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12

In 1 Corinthians 3:19, Paul writes that the wisdom of our world is foolishness in God's sight. Nowhere is this truth more powerfully demonstrated than in the story of Jesus' birth. Can you imagine how Christ's birth would have looked if we had been tasked by God for planning Jesus' arrival? We'd create a list of "must-haves," and if I were on the committee, I'd shoot for a plan that had maximum effect as its goal.

OK, somehow we have to figure out a way for everyone on earth to know Jesus has arrived. Make a note: check with God to see if He can send angels to the leaders of every major people group to announce Christ's birth . . .

Aren't we all thankful that God's ways are higher than ours? 

Jesus. The Son of God. The Messiah. The Prince of Peace. God's Lamb. Immanuel! Sent not as a grown man to the great centers of influence, but as a vulnerable infant to a feeding trough in a small village. How remarkable this truth is! And yet, when we consider God's heart, when we think about who and what He values, sending Jesus the way He was sent makes perfect sense. God's heart has always been for the small, the weak, the outcast. Jesus was sent in a way that even the lowliest of people could identify with. What an awesome gift! 

In ministry and in life, we often wonder exactly how God is going to show up. We find ourselves in a place of need. We think to ourselves, "If God would just do "X," it would make perfect sense." Let's see the Christmas story as a reminder that God's interactions in our lives and in our world will always be completely in line with His perfect wisdom.

The next time you find yourself needing God, remember the Savior of the world as a baby, and wait expectantly for God to move in ways that make perfect sense according to His plan.

This article was originally published on June 12, 2017.

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