Expecting Jesus in the Unexpected

The story of Christmas is littered with the daily. People were getting up and going to work. People were having to respond to government demands. People were getting married. And religious people were doing religious things. But then there was the unexpected.

Expectations are powerful things. They create. They provide hope. They energize. They anticipate. They take us beyond ourselves and what we see to believe in things that are coming, not as fruits of our own labors but as gifts from Almighty God.

Mary never expected an angel to show up, especially with such a message. Zachariah and Elizabeth had fairly well given up on expecting a child, then something unexpected happened. Shepherds wished they could participate in worship activities, especially since their livelihood provided the sacrifices for worship. Yet they were deemed unclean by men but not by God. The unexpected happened.

Through this devotional and the studies we will do leading up to Christmas, our prayer is that God will rekindle in each of us the excitement, the awe, and the wonder of anticipation. That we will live in such a way to expect God in the unexpected!

Have a blessed Christmas, filled with Him.

Pastor Pat

Come back each day of Advent leading up to Christmas for a new devotional post. Want to view the whole devotional now? Digital downloads are available to purchase for $1.50: click here.