July 10 You Fit

Luke 2:4-5 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
 
JOSEPH and Mary are on an 80-mile walk from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea. The journey would take about 5 to 8 days, depending as you can imagine, on weather, congestion on the roadway and how everyone was feeling. These steps to Bethlehem are the next steps of God’s magnificent plan to save the world. 
     Consider here the centuries of promises and prophecies that had come to the Jews. The spoken and written word of God had been revealed from Abraham to Isaac to Joseph to Moses to Samuel to David to Isaiah to Daniel to Joseph and Mary. Wait, can we say “Joseph and Mary”, in the same breath with the mighty, godly heroes of Israel’s history? They seem to be uneducated, impoverished misfits, scared and just following the crowd.
     But they aren’t misfits. Joseph and Mary are surely as much a part of God’s plan of salvation as the mighty and famous. God puts people of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and futures on a journey with him to bring salvation to the world. God takes “misfits” and fits them perfectly into his plan.
     That’s why he’s called you. Yes, you. You’re really not a misfit. You may think you are, but you’re not. When you say, “Yes, Lord. I will follow you.” you have spoken a life-changing commitment. No longer is your life your own to do as you please. In God’s grace, Jesus’ death and the Spirit-giving life, the Lord has begun in you a journey that goes step-by-step to perfectly walk with your personal, loving God.  He takes you to the places he has prepared to reveal his word and to enlarge his kingdom. Such places could be as Joseph and Mary –  a crowded town, a stinky stable, a sheep pasture, a rocky road, a mountain top, a fertile plain or a cross. Yes, there is that promise from Jesus that you will fit into the Kingdom of God when you “take up your cross”. (Mark 8:34) Joseph’s and Mary’s cross included a pre-marital pregnancy, a hard journey, a primitive birth place for their son, a flight to Egypt to protect him and a daily responsibility to look after the Son of God. In the Spirit’s power, they fit well into their mission, and so will you.
     God’s salvation makes you his. I pray you enjoy the wonder of your journey with him all the way to heaven.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the ways you fit me into your salvation plan for the world. Amen.