This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:18
Over and over again the gospel accounts of Jesus' birth go out of their way to impress upon us that Jesus’ birth happened in the fullness of time, according to plan, to fulfill God’s promises. Nowhere is this more clear than in the gospel of Matthew. From the very first verse, Matthew takes great pains to tie Jesus’ birth back to the ancient promises of God. In the first two chapters of his book, Matthew points to four different Old Testament prophecies to show how God providentially ordered all the details of Jesus’ birth in accord with His plan.
So when you think of all the details of the Christmas story that God worked out to fulfill prophecy... when you think of Jesus being born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, of the line of David in keeping with God's promises, be reminded that God is provident. Be reminded that God is in control and He works all things out according with His plan.
So as we begin to prepare for Christmas this year, let the Christmas story remind you that God has a plan and a purpose that He is working out, not only for our lives but for all of human history. History isn’t careening out of control. The circumstances of your life aren’t wholly random. God is in control and He is directing everything toward His desired end.
Doesn’t it make you feel better to know that you serve a God who knows the end of the story? Isn’t it comforting in 2020 to be reminded that God is in control of all the madness going on? So, as you celebrate Christmas this year celebrate that God knows how the story ends. Celebrate that the world isn’t out of control. Celebrate that God is working all things out according to His plan and moving us toward His end for His purposes.
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