Faithful Stewards

I encourage you to read Luke 2 again, the story of our Savior’s birth. Put yourself in Mary’s sandals for a moment, and you’ll wish you hadn’t. First, she was a virgin who was told by an angel she would give birth to God’s son. Can you imagine how difficult it must have been to explain that to her mother and father? How unimaginably hard it must have been to tell her fiancé, Joseph, that she had conceived God’s son through the Holy Spirit? Mary’s journey with Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem was no walk in the park either, especially for a teenage woman about to give birth. The cities were about 70 miles apart, a three-day trek. You can easily envision Mary asking why the census had to be then, and worrying if she’d get back home before the baby was born.

Yet Mary and Joseph, the couple God the Father chose to humanly parent His Son, were faithful stewards to obey the decree of Caesar. When presented with having to give birth to the Son of God in a lowly manger—most likely a cave, a place for animals—they followed God’s instructions. They did what was necessary and trusted God for the outcome. The angels, the manger, the virgin birth, the shepherds, all that makes the Christmas story even more of a miracle, may not have happened without their dutiful perseverance.

This week, don’t be afraid to take whatever journey of faith God requires of you. Ask Jesus what selfless amount does the Lord want you to give toward the Lottie Moon Christmas offering? What can you do this week to help someone else who is struggling? Is there a journey you need to make to visit and love someone who is hurting? Be an obedient and faithful steward to what God tells you to do for Him.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Phillip