Day 55: Hassles and rules! - Luke 2 vs 1 – 7.

1-2 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3-4 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And, because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He travelled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5-6 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:1-7 New Living Translation

While 'Christmas' is big business to the world – look at how very simply it's told in the first book of the New Testament! But, much like today, the first event was also a time of crowds and rush. How do you think most Jews felt when they heard they must go to their ancestral towns to be registered? Do you think it was easy for Mary and Joseph to have the hassle of a strenuous trip at this time of her life? How do you think Joseph must have felt as a husband when he could not find any decent lodgings for his heavily pregnant wife?

Sometimes our situation in life can also be a time of upheaval and hassles. It can be due to Government rules, having to move, crowds, failed bookings, unexpected pregnancy, and a host of other things. Sometimes it may even be a serious illness, frequent hospital visits and all the frustrations that come along with that. How do you usually react at such times? (Sadly, I know I'm prone to be be grumpy and impatient.)

But think of how Mary may have felt having her baby when and where she did? Most mothers would've wanted to prepare a pretty baby room. Yet, in all these topsy-turvy conditions, God was at work! The inconvenient timing . . . the crowds and the rush . . . the makeshift nursery . . . none of these things prevented God from bringing about one of the most wonderful moments in the history of mankind . . . the birth of His Son in the world; the arrival of the one who was to be the Saviour of sinners.

I hesitate to draw attention again to ourselves from a story that is about Jesus, but what happened here is a lovely example of Romans 8:28 where Paul says: “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” So the next time we encounter situations that hassle us - let's keep Joseph and Mary in mind. God is greater than any hassles in life we may have to face.

But, more importantly, take time today to reflect again on the wonder of this event – that Jesus Christ was born into our world. He became flesh and lived among us! How wonderful is that!