“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forever more. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” – Isaiah 9:6-7
“And He (Jesus) said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” – Luke 24:25-27
“For the LORD God does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.” – Amos 3:7
The Christmas story reveals to us a God who reveals to us! In other words, we have a heavenly Father who gives us a heads up. He lets us know that He is here and lets us know what He is doing. The question is not, “Is God here?” or “Is God working?” or “Is God going to do something?” The question is, are we watching and listening? God always makes His plans known to His people! He is not a God who is trying to catch you off guard. Entrapment is NOT a characteristic of our God. He is clear about what He is doing and clear about His expectations for His people. Our problems…challenges…issues…come from our refusal to accept His plans (i.e. the saving grace of Jesus) and submit to His will for our live (i.e. a life of obedience to His leading).
Christmas was not a surprise to God, of course, but it was also no surprise to us! Even the chief priests and the scribes of the people in Jesus’ day KNEW where the Christ would be born (Matthew 2:4-6)! God had made sure that there was no mistake that Jesus was the Christ. The details had been given through the Prophets. It was happening according to the plan that God had set out from the beginning. He had not changed any of it. It occurred just as He had said.
So, how did so many miss it? And, how do so many miss it today? Just like the first Christmas, we have become distant from God and lost track of the plan that He has made clear from the beginning. Some know the plan but have rejected it for a “better” more “worldly” plan straying from the design of our Creator. We have tried so hard to come up with our own plan and have forgotten that God already has a plan.
The good news is that God’s plan for you is one that gives life. His plan brings the hope, peace, joy and love of Christmas into your world through a relationship with Jesus because His plan was not only to come but to redeem! This is the Christmas story told from the beginning. Don’t miss it!