Devotion Corner
Luke 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
The Christmas season can feel like a frantic blur of having to continue all the usual busyness of life. This must be done whilst attempting to blend an array of extra seasonal tasks and activities. In the middle of all the organised chaos, it can be stressful to see the bank accounts drain, the family gatherings swell in number, and the exhausting nature of childcare ramp up tenfold thanks to overexcited children. It can leave us feeling quite overwhelmed.
Yet the Christmas message is not the cosy scene of a starlit peaceful delivery of gently cooing baby, all whilst doe eyed animals gaze on in wonder. The reality of the events of the Nativity, reflects what many of us face in the daily strain of life. In Luke 2:5, we see the recording that Joseph was faced with a daunting and exhausting collection of tasks. He was to care for a heavily pregnant wife, whilst having to undergo a gruelling trip all for the luxury of registering to pay more taxes. This he had to navigate on his own (in the fleshly sense at least).
Yet here is the message of hope for us in our exhausted moments over the Christmas season. The message of Christmas as recorded in Holy Scripture does not sugar coat the harsh realities of life. Instead, the Bible offers us a way to calmly and wisely navigate such challenging times. Joseph navigated such a stressful collection of issues through his leaning on the faithfulness of God. This is what we are to do also, not just in challenging times but every day. We are to tackle each day and all the tasks, duties and responsibilities that come with them, not in self-reliance, but in dependency on the goodness of God.
So, when you feel uniquely burdened with all the tasks of the day, take a moment and reflect on this verse. The entry of the Son of God into this world came in a stressful collection of issues. Yet He came to guide us through such challenges and assure us that through Him, we can be strengthened to face them with joy and thanksgiving. Thereby, we glorify God by refusing to yield to stress and strain, and instead live productively with a full heart that declares the love of God to all.
