Tag Archives: angel of the lord

Random thoughts from the Advent Journey

Posted on by
Reply

As the title says these will be random thoughts:

Have you ever seen how God is able to use the least expected vessels for His mission? An unwed mother, from Nazareth (“Can any good thing come from Nazareth?”), a stable in a small town called Bethlehem not to mention a killer of His people named Saul, later known as the Apostle Paul.

Have you ever noticed that God’s view of people isn’t always ours? Shepherds in the field chosen as the first to receive the news of Christ birth, instead of the priest and kings.

Gentile, wise men, led by a star the first to give Him gifts.Jesus’ willingness to eat with tax collectors and sinners, even His chosen disciples were fishermen and tax collectors not priests or scribes.

Have you ever noticed that where God needs us isn’t always a comfortable place? A mother about to deliver in a stable, taking a young child and running to Egypt to save His life, Paul and Silas in Jail, Jesus on the cross.

Have you noticed that fulfilling God’s will often requires a difficult journey?  Mary and Joseph’s journey of about one hundred miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the wise men’s coming from the east, Paul’s ship wrecked missionary journey, the children of Israel from Egypt to the promised land, Jesus’ journey to the cross and our journey of course from sinner to saint.

Now for a confession, every time we sing, one of my favorite Christmas Songs, “Silent Night” or “O Little Town of Bethlehem” I have trouble seeing the place as silent or still. An uncomfortable crowd, forced to travel with no place to stay, there to pay a burdensome tax imposed on them from a foreigner, you know they were talking loudly with each other. Not to mention the family reunions taking place with loud greetings and memories and catching up. It’s no wonder the people in Bethlehem didn’t come running to the stable they were distracted with the every day things of life. My prayer for myself and everyone else is that we may not be distracted this Advent Season but that God will gain our attention and we will see “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” as the shepherds and wise men did.

One last thought, of course He called shepherds He had a very special Lamb to be watched over.

By Rev Bill Rafuse

Pondering on Christmas

Posted on by
Reply

Every house was full with families gathered together, many for the first time in years. Loud discussions could be heard, some about the cost and danger of the journey. Others upset with the politicians and the new taxes they had just imposed. Late comers had trouble finding a place to rest tired bodies. So as evening came many slept,others tossed and turned and still others hurried about town seeking a place to sleep.

Bearded men set at a table,heads covered in a heated debate about how to keep the Lord happy with such difficulty keeping the laws. “Did you see those in stables with unclean animals?” “Yes and not enough water for all to bathe properly!” “Who will minister to them with most of the priest in other towns?” “Counting the number of gentile merchants who have come in for the profit is impossible.” “Nothing good could ever come of this mess, boy am I glad we live right and have nothing to fear.” “Those poor tribes of Ishmael in the East, and the lower class like the shepherds in the fields have no hope of pleasing the Messiah when he comes.” Head coverings straightened, robes hitched tighter, and sandals tied they leave for the comfort of the places their power and wealth afford.

Thirty years later some of those bearded men came together again and questioned the story of this man from Nazareth, something about Bethlehem during the tax, they were there and nothing of importance happened that they knew of.

“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.”(Luke 2:8-9a) You know the rest of the story. “Magi from the east came” (Matthew 2:1) finish the story you know it.

Christmas has a gift for us all, not just the great gift of God’s son, but the assurance that God is a God of His word and even in times of difficulties, even when we are in situations were a blessing from God would seem impossible, and even if we don’t see it at the time, God does, has and always will keep his promises. Galatians 4:4 tells us that “In the fullness of time”, when God decided, “Christ came to earth”.God chooses the time to bless not based on what we see, think or fear but on His Amazing Grace.

By: Rev Bill Rafuse