Here I am sitting on a bed with 3 other teammates and two more on the floor. We are watching elf, laughing at how buddy in elf land is how we feel in Asia sometimes. No, scratch that, a lot of the time between the bus, bathrooms or clothes at the market. We are an hour and a half away from it officially being Christmas Eve. December 24, 2013. CHRISTMAS EVE, there will never be another December 24, 2013 in our lives, and we are in Bangkok Thailand.
Bangkok Thailand where we get to celebrate Christmas.
As of lately I have really been thinking of Jesus a Lot.. shocker I am sure, I mean your probably Thinking “Leah your on a year long mission trip.” But just hear me out, I have also been thinking about the Christmas story. I have been in so much awe this year that God would choose such a tiny, innocent being to bring in the world and predestine him for so much. I mean honestly God could of just come in on his white horse, in his shining armor and set us straight but instead choose a baby.
A tiny baby not born in a hospital or even some grand home with midwives, nurses or fancy machines on scene. If you look at his genealogy he does not come from backgrounds that include the wealthy or the highest educated. But from people who were fairly simple. Some of which really did not have the greatest backgrounds. There are 14 plus generations before Jesus finally enters the scene. Yes you have people like King David and Abraham, huge figures in the bible. But then within you also have
“Tamar: She sold herself as a prostitute to her father in-law Judah to bring forth Perez and Zerah (Genesis 38).
Rahab: She was a Gentile prostitute, for whom God took extraordinary measures to save from both judgment and her lifestyle of prostitution (Joshua 2; 6:22-23).
Ruth: She was from Moab, a Gentile and her conversion, out of the covenant of Israel (Ruth 1).” (http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/4001.htm, December 23, 2013
I mean we have prostitutes, we have king David who had that whole. thing with Bathsheba. Then to top it all off we have sweet Mary who is not even married yet, gets pregnant, and the guy agrees to marry her but then is planning a quick divorce. Yet God used every single one of these people as an important part of the puzzle that brought Jesus into play. Every piece held the highest importance to a bigger picture that only he can see.
If that does not say something about our lives being so much more valuable then we could ever know than I do not know what else can convince you that your life actually holds a significant piece to the puzzle that depicts the world right now. Without you in it something would be missing the puzzle would not be complete.
God choose to bring a tiny baby into the world and call him king, a tiny baby that he would eventually call onto a cross to die for the sins of those who were not even alive yet. To bring Hope, hope of a true relationship with God himself. Hope in fullness of life. Jesus literally covered the gap sin had created between us and God, so that we could easily access God any moment. He brought his own son into the world to love, go through trials so that we could not only be saved, but have someone who had truly been through it all, that understands our hurts and frustrations.
That is a lot of things to put on a tiny baby, born in a manager wrapped in the cloths. He forever changed the symbol of babies. Jesus was born to give us hope, he died to give us a future. For the chance to live and be forgiven for each sin, no matter how bad.
This Christmas as you sit with family and friends celebrating, giving gifts, laughing, crying and loving others I hope you can remember sweet baby Jesus. Born to a young couple, born with the weight of the world on his tiny shoulders. He came for YOU, everyone one of you sitting around a palm tree or Christmas tree or just gathered together. Love those around you, we are all a piece of the puzzle that is the greater picture of life.
So to all those back home family, friends, or others reading this blog;
Merry Christmas from my family, the wonderful people God has put me in community with this year!
May God bless you immensely this holiday season with those he has placed around you!
