The birth of Jesus is documented in the Gospel of Matthew and Luke. It was a miraculous event that changed the course of history and the future of everyone. It was prophesied in the Old Testament and became a reality in the New. We all know all the events that led to Jesus’ birth. Many of us can even recall acting in a Nativity play!
I recall when I was about 8 years old, our church did the Nativity play and I was cast as Angel Gabriel. I was so excited because I appeared in several scenes (Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the final scene). What got me more excited was that I had wings! Among all the costumes that looked grand and colourful, 8-year-old me was intrigued as I was the old one with wings. The memories of that day remain etched in me even today. I always had a grand entrance because each time I appeared, someone backstage released smoke! Well, enough about me, Christmas is about Jesus.
I would like to share it from the angle of God’s plan for our lives. Mary, a young girl, who was already engaged to Joseph, had her whole future ahead of her. I am sure she was excited to start her new life, and “she had plans”. All that changed the day the angel appeared to her with God’s plan for her life. Joseph, her soon-to-be husband, must have had big plans too, and he must have got their home ready for the new life together. I am sure he envisioned taking care of Mary well, perhaps even planning their honeymoon, etc. “Joseph had plans”.. Again, all that changed when the angel came to him in a dream.
Let’s look now at the shepherds in the fields. For them, it was like any normal day out with the sheep. It was a quiet day, and they were probably sitting around chatting away about life. Maybe some had bigger plans, maybe they did not want to be shepherds their whole life. Some may have had ambitions for bigger things. Maybe some sat around that night saying shepherding is such a boring job. We just sit around looking at sheep the whole day! There is no fun! Suddenly, the heavens opened, and there were choirs of angels all around them. They surely would have been awe-struck. One shepherd probably looked at the other and said, “Well, you asked for fun? Now we have a choir and a trip to Bethlehem to see a baby!” Looking at the shepherds, I am sure “they had plans” but their encounter that night with the King of kings changed everything in their lives.
Let’s look now at the wise men. Their lives were dramatically changed. You see Christmas cards and the pictures of the nativity scene always show the wise men at the stable with their gifts. If we read the Bible clearly, we will see that they did not come to a stable to see a newborn. Matthew 2:9-10 reads, “When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
The wise men came to a house and saw a child and not a baby. Bible commentators say that the child was about 2 years old. Imagine what changed in their lives over 2 years. They had a mission to see the child Jesus and everything else in their lives, and they put everything on hold for 2 years until this was accomplished. These wise men, ”they too had plans”. What happened to all their plans for 2 years? Was it forgotten or postponed?
Something else touched and transformed their lives forever. Whether it was Mary, Joseph, the shepherd, or the wise men. The longing and desire to see Jesus far outweighed any one of their plans. What was perhaps important to them at one point in their lives didn’t really matter any longer. The desire to please God, to follow His plan and purpose was more important.
As we come to the end of 2023 and step into 2024, what are your plans for the future? What are your plans for your personal life, marriage, family, career, or even your ministry? Have you laid it all out, those plans and strategies? Are they your plans or HIS? Did you ask Him or tell Him about them?
God’s plans outweigh everything we could ever imagine for our lives. Isaiah 55:8-9 reads, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men all submitted to the will of God in their lives. Can I encourage you to do the same for 2024? Lay everything before Him, and allow Him to govern and direct everything in your life. The best place you could ever be is in the centre of God’s perfect will. When you see His plan unfold, you will realise that it was far better than anything you own. Give God your 2024, and allow Him to open the right doors for you and close the ones that are not meant to be there.
About the Ryans: Ps. Justin Ryan & his wife Ps. Jacquie are the founders of One Voice Ministries, established in 2008. It is a missions and training ministry focused on reaching the 10/40 Window. To date they have ministered in 9 nations, teaching and training pastors and leaders as well as evangelising many of the unreached peoples groups. Here in Malaysia, One Voice has an established work with the Orang Asli.
In 2013, the Lord has led them to found Issachar Academy where they provide training specifically for missions in a hospitable environment. Through the academy, the Ryans also help Christians recognise and move in their seasons with God.For more details please visit them at www.onevm.net
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