When Christmas broke in

When Christmas broke in, they were all doing what they usually did.

The shepherds were with their sheep, as usual. Simeon was waiting patiently, as usual. Anna was at the temple as she usually was. For Mary and Joseph, when the government calls for a census, the usual thing to do is ... well, to go register.

The radical scandal of the Christian gospel, what makes it so beautiful, what makes it Good News, what makes it Christmas, is that God comes to you.

“Do not be afraid,” said the angel, “I bring YOU good tidings of great joy … Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to YOU.”

Or this:

"A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and..." what shall they call him?

"They shall call him Immanuel, God with US."

When Christmas happened to the the shepherds and the innkeepers, to the Annas and the Simeons, they were all doing what they usually did every day.

And Jesus broke in.

It is human nature to think that you have to go somewhere else, and do something else, in order to really make a difference for God. But that is not the evidence of the lives of the supporting cast of the greatest story ever told. They were basically doing what they were doing – and each of their common lives became a story.

Yes, God is great. He is so great He can change what you do for His glory. But God is so great He can be glorified just in what you are doing! That is the real miracle of Christmas.

So thank God we are where we are and doing what we do, because we are in exactly the right place to see how Christ in the world can fill our lives with stories.

These would be the stories of Christmas.

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Luke 2.10-11 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Matthew 1.23 Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, "God with us."