Ordinary People

A Christmas song recorded by 4 Him keeps running through my mind. The lyrics are written in Joseph's point of view:

"Why me (why me), I'm just a simple man of trade?
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl (ordinary girl)
Now, I'm not one to second guess what angel's have to say,
But this is such a strange way to save the world."

This song reminds me that God used ordinary people and the power of the Holy Spirit in this most extraordinary birth of the Savior, Emmanuel -- God with us. The people mentioned in Christmas account of Matthew and Luke were the first to have a personal encounter with Jesus! WOW! But an even bigger WOW is that Jesus still desires a personal encounter with ordinary people in the world today, and not just an encounter, but an intimate relationship.

After the shepherds heard and saw the angelic host in the night sky, they ran to find Him and along the way they told everyone what the angels had said about this child. Now, the Bible doesn't say so, but knowing human nature, I imagine a lot of the people who heard the shepherds' story also ran to the stable. Wouldn't you have? I would -- I'm from the Show-Me state, and I would want/need to see things with my own eyes!

In all the commotion, Luke 2:19 states, "Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." That is my prayer. Amid the holiday mayhem, may Mary be our example and may God show you something new and fresh as you celebrate Christmas this week.