They will rebuild the ancient ruins
Isaiah 61:4
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
With Christmas upon us, I’ve been thinking back to my most recent visit to Bethlehem this past February. The Church of the Nativity marks the traditional location of Jesus’ birth. It’s one of the oldest church buildings, having survived where others were destroyed during invasions. Nevertheless, time continues to take its toll on the structure. The church is undergoing a multiyear restoration, set to be completed by December 2019. I can imagine those who visit for the first time, disappointed to see the scaffolding obscuring this ancient structure.
Life doesn’t always work out as we think it should. This church a reminder of Jesus’ entry into this world. Christmas time highlights the good and bad of life. What would an ideal Christmas look like to you? How does it measure up? Do you focus on what’s going right or wrong?
I suppose Mary and Joseph felt similarly irked thousands of years ago. They had an image of getting married and starting a family but God had other plans. Instead, they found themselves far from home in less than ideal circumstances as their promised baby was born. But they were right where God wanted them. It may have seemed messy and inconvenient, but something beautiful and restorative was happening.
What is broken in your life that needs repair? How could God be using that to shape you?
