Dec 9th, 2018 – “When A New Reality Hits Unexpectedly”

A Number of years ago, I found myself without a job. It was not a completely foreign feeling to me, I had been laid off a few times in my lifetime. So, I was familiar with the process. Though this time – it was out of the blue for me and my family… and things… were different. I was being told that my unemployment paperwork was denied, which left me confused and lacking understanding in my possibly short lived career.

About two months after being let go, I was on the phone with my former employer having a rather …boisterous… conversation, as I was being told that I would in-fact, NOT receive unemployment. About ten minutes after I hung up, Melissa came out of the bedroom to talk to me (which I really was not interested in doing, nor hearing). Sitting down next to me, she very calmly said – You need to hear this right now.

While my phone conversation was taking place, she was preparing to read one of her devotionals.

From the conversation she was overhearing from me in the living room, she was reminded of  devotion she had just a few weeks prior titled “No Unemployment” – so she went back and re-read that daily portion, before then turning towards the section that she was preparing to read that night, which stopped her when her eyes met the verse for that day.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus”. Phillipians 4:19

    This had been the perfect job for me, with plenty of opportunity, and expectations from everyone that I would move up with the organization. But a new reality hit us unexpectedly, and it was clear that God was confirming to us that He was moving us to a new area in life.

So we took a breath… and surrendered our plan and our goals for what God was doing. And that night – we found peace.

    Our passage this week brings us to another couple who had expectations for their future, but God had a different path for them as well. One that would literally birth peace in their lives when they surrendered themselves to what God was doing.  Turn with me to the 1st Chapter of the Gospel of Matthew                              

Joseph was troubled about Mary. Her pregnancy brought up unwanted circumstances no-matter how he handled the situation. To divorce her publicly, or quietly – the shame would ultimately be the same – she’s young, pregnant and now divorced. Even today, there are certain areas where this stigma is incredibly difficult to overcome. Much less in a 1st Century, Middle Eastern Culture.

Troubled with what to do, we see that Joseph decides to let her go quietly, even though social and legal favor would side with him.

But, of course – God had other plans.

TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF PEACE – WE MUST BE WILLING TO LET GO OF OUR TROUBLED HEARTS

And Joseph…planned to send her away secretly. [When] an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid

We see two things from this short passage about Joseph – One, that he is a righteous man (some translations use the phrase “just man”) which means that he followed the commands of God. But that doesn’t mean that his life would be exempt of hardships. It’s conceivable that Joseph believed Mary’s story of carrying God’s baby, and was only going to hide her from the public until the baby was born.

But what is most probable is that he didn’t believe her, and the wording used in this text is divorced. Which would lead us to believe that there were accusations, anger, a feeling of betrayal, and tears of hurt and frustration which precluded Joseph’s decision. Keep in mind that this is only conjecture – we don’t know what was said, or un-said because Scripture doesn’t tell us — but WE DO KNOW, that Joseph was troubled — and in that one little sentence, we can feel his anxiety and have empathy on the situation.

But we also see that Joseph could have dismissed the message from this Angel in his dream. Jewish tradition [Talmud] states that 1/20th of dreams are prophetic (.5%) . And, more often than not – dreams are just our minds processing the events of our day. So Joseph must have felt the presence of peace that comes from knowing in your heart that the Lord was in this. He chose to let go of his troubled heart, and receive the kind of peace that only God can give. Peace that would set him and his family on a different journey.  

GOD’S PEACE, BRINGS NEW DIRECTION

And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him

There’s a lot to be discovered in just these few verses that are found in the moment… Not least of which, are obedience and trust. But more than that, it’s letting go of the indictment or accusations of those around them and accepting God’s peace for this new direction. Mary and Joseph would know in their heart and minds that life was going to be different from here on out. But they could have had no idea just how different.

    This new direction brought them closer to another couple who was also experiencing a new direction unexpectedly;  Zachariah and Elizabeth (found in Luke 1 and referenced for you on the back of your Chronicles). These two couples, and their children are intertwined forever in what God was planning to fulfill.

Oftentimes, God places us in a direction, where our relationships with each other affirms – or re-affirms – what it is that God is doing. A great example of this is found right here at North Point Community. Our purpose is to be in relationship as we journey the ups and downs of our spiritual walk in Christ. That together, we pray for each other and our families – we learn to celebrate together, and learn how to comfort each other. Because God is present in our lives – then God must be moving in our lives. And too often, we forget about what God has promised because the moment of fear prevents us from seeing, hearing, and believing.

This was the case for Mary and Joseph as well. Letting go of their troubled hearts, brought them peace to move in a new direction, which God would then place people in their lives who would affirm them, care for them, and be in relationship with them.

ADVENT REMINDS US THAT PEACE IS BORN INTO OUR LIVES WHEN WE SURRENDER OURSELVES TO GOD

This is not a three step guide to how you can receive God’s peace in your life. This is a message that invites the peace that God offers us, found in Christ, to be born in you today. By taking a first step – or maybe even our next step, towards surrendering ourselves to God and coming to the table of our Lord, as we remember His words and His purpose – Communion with him, in a community together.

Benediction:    Years later, Christ would say these words to His disciples