In the Ordinary
July 1, 2023 2023-07-01 8:02In the Ordinary
Revlee In the ordinary…
Both Mary and Joseph had visits from angelic beings that could only be described as brilliant and overwhelming. They emerged from these encounters with a story that possibly no one might believe. The supernatural invaded the natural for a moment, for a message, and a miracle, then life went on in a very average way.
Instead, it was an average existence. No miracle angel to carry them 70 miles to Bethlehem. No soft easy road to travel. Not even a guest room. Joseph had to get up each day and provide for the family, and Mary had to deal with morning sickness. Nothing miraculous there. Life was just ordinary.
God is in the midst of the ordinary. Isn’t this the story of Christmas? God with us. God with us in the course of our regular, ordinary, unplanned, difficult, seemingly meaningless moments. Perhaps this is the lesson we have missed.
We want the angels. We want the miracles. We want fire from Heaven, divided waters, sight for the blind, the dead brought back to life. Certainly, miracles come, but the joy we have is not the miracle moments that come and go, but knowing God is with me in the ordinary.
He is with us in the morning when the thoughts of our day begin to fill our minds as we stand in front of the mirror getting ready for our day. While we are stuck in traffic, He is there. While we drink our coffee, eat our lunch, sit in the meetings, drive the forklift, He is with us.
The times were ordinary, but Mary knew, she hid in her heart, the promise of deliverance, miracles, and salvation. Her ordinary moments marinated in the hope of what had been promised. God is always with us in the plain jane of life. Yet, each moment is packed with the potential of power breaking through. Isn’t this how we should live.
Our minds should be filled with contentment that God is with us in the course of our unexceptional day, and the joy of knowing the possibility of power breaking through. We live in the ordinary with our eyes on the supernatural. This is the story of Christmas.
Prayer: Lord, remind me You are always with me for fellowship, and give me daily joy knowing You will breakthrough soon in ways I never could have imagined. Amen.
