What a week! Christingle celebrations, carols in church and cosy times in our homes that God has provided. There’s so much to be thankful for.
Throughout our Advent blog series, I’ve been reflecting on the people in the Nativity and what their stories mean for our lives today. This week, I'm thinking about callings.
In the Christmas story, it isn’t just Mary and Joseph who are called by God. The wise men and the shepherds also took steps of faith and fulfilled God’s will for their lives, by making their journeys to Jesus. Their stories can teach and encourage us today.
The wise men were called to Jesus through a star in the sky:
‘After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”’ (Matthew 2: 1-2, NIV)
‘After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.’ (Matthew 2: 9-11, NIV)
The wise men traveled a long distance, from beyond Israel, and were wealthy and well-educated, assumed from the context and the gifts that they brought.
The shepherds, though seen then as lower in society, were also called to Jesus - in a very different way:
'And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”' (Luke 2: 8-12, NIV)
We know that Mary and Joseph, too, were uniquely and wonderfully called by God.
Today, I love hearing people’s stories of how they were called to Jesus - either to follow Him at the beginning of their walks with God; or when they were called to do something, to serve or take a step of faith. Every story is unique. All of them amaze me, as God’s great goodness shines through.
The wise men and the shepherds were normal people, with individual paths and callings chosen by God. Vitally, all of them followed His call - like Mary and Joseph did - and went to worship Jesus. And look what wonders came to be when they did!
I find it interesting to read what everyone in the Nativity story did just after meeting baby Jesus. The shepherds went home and told everyone about The Son of God: ‘When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.’ (Luke 2: 17-18, NIV).
Mary ‘treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart’. (Luke 2: 19)
The wise men received further instructions from God and, just after their first great journey of faith, they obediently took another: ‘And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.’ (Matthew 2: 12)
Sometimes, as we walk with Jesus, we can look at other people’s paths and callings and wonder: Am I “doing it right”? Am I "good enough"? Should I be serving more like others?
For me, the stories of the people in the Nativity - the differences in their callings and responses - reassure me of what I believe Jesus tells me again and again: God loves us all as we are, for who we are.
Like Mary, Joseph, the wise men and the shepherds, we are all different. We are all called to Jesus in different ways. We all respond differently and walk different paths.
And that's because God made us, us.
God uniquely writes our lives with perfect detail. He individually chooses our paths, for purposes beyond our understanding. And I believe He lovingly crafts our hearts to allow us to fulfill His plans for our lives - plans that no-one else can fulfill!
One of my favourite Scriptures is Psalm 139 v 16:
‘All the days ordained for me were written in your book
Before one of them came to be.’ (NIV)
And so, as I learn from the callings of those in the Christmas story, I’m thanking God for my own story - even the times I cannot understand yet. I’m rejoicing in its uniqueness, because it was specially written by Him. I’m accepting the beautiful gift of who I am, and where I am, and I pray that you too realise just how special you are in the eyes of our Maker; just how much your life is preciously designed for purposes so good, you can’t even imagine.
Wherever our paths take us, however we love and serve Him, whatever we do, whoever we are - God loves us for us. Unconditionally. All He asks is that we humbly answer His call, and love Him back.
Lord, thank you for showing us, through your Word, that you call us to you and write our stories with individual love. Thank you that you are a caring, personal Father who loves each of us unconditionally, whoever and wherever we are. I pray that you help us to always try our best to serve you, in gratitude for this incredible gift of love.
Amen.
Have a blessed Advent! Kim x
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