Christmas Scandal

Joe and Mary are going to be married soon, but Mary has some awful news- she is already pregnant! "What?!" Joe can hardly believe his ears. He chose Mary because of her virtue and honesty. Not only does his hurt run the deepest ever, but there are some legal problems.

If he decides to not marry her, then people will ask why and find out about her unfaithfulness. She can try the same story on others that she tried on Joe. Who would really believe that God put a child inside of her, and that no man was needed in the process. That has never happened before.

As Joe contemplates his options he has a dream in which an angel tells him to relax, what she said was true, and God wanted him to help Mary by marrying her anyway. Joe concedes and the rest is history.

I do not know why God would bring His only Son into the world through such a scandal. Many over the years have thought up ways in which it could have happened better. But we do not make up the rules, He does.

Sometimes God asks us to give up ourselves in the process of making His plans happen. It might cost us time, money, comfort, reputation, possessions, and anything else to honor Him in this life. What we do in obedience to God might look completely foolish to others, but who is most important here?

Mary submitted to God's plan. Joseph submitted to God's plan. The shepherds did what the angels told them to do. The wise men followed the star as the sign to go by.

Our families can go hundreds of directions. The world will distract the youngest to the oldest away from God's plan and ways. We must keep God in front of us in as many ways as possible so as not to loose vision and strength. It has to be done on purpose.

Can we commit ourselves and our families to God's way even if it might cost us something?