Interruptions at Christmas

Welcome, well I continue with my Christmas series this week. This sermon was originally written by Jeff Griffis but then modified for my congregation. It's title does not sound like a typical Christmas sermon title, but life is rarely typical. 

Matt 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"-which means, "God with us."

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

When Pope Julius I authorized December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today.

When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in America in 1832, who would have ever thought that the decorations would become as elaborate as they are today.

It is a long time since 1832, longer still from 353, longer still from that dark night brightened by a special star in which Jesus the king was born. Yet, as we approach December 25 again, it gives us yet another opportunity to pause, and in the midst of all the excitement and elaborate decorations and expensive commercialization which surround Christmas today, to consider again the event of Christmas and the person whose birth we celebrate. - Brian L. Harbour, James W. Cox, The Minister's Manual: 1994, San Fransico: Harper Collins, 1993, p. 254.

We have tremendously high expectations of Christmas. We want everything to be perfect. We have pictures in our minds of children playing, church choirs singing, and people smiling and getting along. But often it is not that way. It is supposed to be, as the song says, "the most wonderful time of the year" and the "hap-happiest season of all."

But not everyone sees it that way, remember for Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol?” Christmas was an interruption. For many, Christmas is a very difficult time because something has interrupted their joy. It may be sickness, or death, or divorce, or loneliness.

We look to the Christmas season to be a time of perfect peace, harmony, and joy. But what about the first Christmas was it that way, or was it an interruption?

Interruptions can happen at any time, that is why they are called interruptions. Consider the timing of Joseph and Mary's interruption. They were engaged to be married. Like Christmas, an engagement is supposed to be a wondrous time. But it was during this time that an angel appeared to Mary and told her that she would miraculously, as a virgin, conceive and give birth to the Son of God. What joyful news! Yet, what an interruption! How would she explain her pregnancy to Joseph? Would he believe her? Would he be willing to take on that responsibility? This was not in their plans. And yet, she accepted it, And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)

Wow! The girl your engaged to comes to you and tells you she is pregnant, talk about an interruption. How would you respond? We know how Joseph responded. He didn't believe her. How could he? His plans for a happy home with the woman he loved were dashed before his eyes. His life, as well as hers, had been powerfully interrupted.

How do you respond to interruptions? Not just the little random interruptions, but the big life changing kind? Often an interruption brings on an immediate emotional reaction. We make decisions that, if we were better informed, we would not make. We must be careful that when we face an interruption, we don't just react according to our own fears and feelings. If we are not careful, our response to an interruption can send us down the wrong path. This happened to Joseph. When he discovered Mary was pregnant, he was devastated. He couldn't buy her story about a virgin conception. As much as he loved her and wanted to be with her, there was nothing to do but divorce her.

If Joseph was only engaged, then why did he need to divorce Mary? A betrothal - an ancient engagement - was much more binding than today's engagements. The only way out of one was divorce. In fact, Joseph had the right to have Mary stoned to death for infidelity. Yet because he was a good man, he did not want to harm her or even embarrass her. He would divorce her privately. This was Joseph's human response to a God interruption. But what a mistake it would have been.

The key to handling an interruption is to get God's take on it. Thankfully, God rescued Joseph from his error. I can imagine Joseph, having learned of Mary's situation, tossing and turning in bed, trying to decide what to do. Finally, he decides. He would divorce her privately. But while he was sleeping an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream and says, "Joseph, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife. What she says is true. The child in her womb is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. This is in fulfillment of what God said through Isaiah the prophet, 'The virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son, and He shall be called Immanuel meaning 'God with us.'" Joseph woke up with a changed mind. He would not divorce Mary. He would take her as his wife and help raise this miraculous child. He had gotten God's perspective of his interruption.

When you encounter an interruption, whatever it may be, don't react according to your own feelings and thoughts. Seek God's direction. Remember Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”

Here are three words to remember when you encounter an interruption.

1. PrayerThe first thing to do when your life is interrupted is stop and pray. 1 Thess 5:16-18 ~ Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Pray for guidance. Pray for courage. Pray for help. When you look to God He will help you.

2. Perspective

Put the interruption in the proper perspective. "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” (Matt 6:26-27)

In working on this sermon one thing I read said of our interruptions, how bad is it really? Well I think that is a silly question, it is bad enough to worry you. But praise God we have some where to cast those worries. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

The Greek uses the word mer'-im-nah  in place of anxiety; which in it's root form means (through the idea of distraction). Because Christ Jesus was willing to came to us as the Son of God, we can give all our distractions, our interruptions to God.
 

3. Providence – It is more than a T.V. Show or a town in Rhode Island.

The dictionary defines Providence as: 
1. often capitalized :  divine guidance or care or

2. (b)capitalized :  God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny

Keep this in mind that God, in His providence, is still in control of your life. It was His providence that made a way for us to be save from our sins. That way came to us from heaven and landed in a manger. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:9-12

Nothing happens to you without the notice of your Heavenly Father. He still has all of the hairs;or lack of, on your head numbered (Matt. 10:30).

Conclusion:

Not all interruptions are bad, some can at times redirect our lives in a positive way. This was true of Joseph and Mary. Their plans were interrupted, but oh what an interruption. Can you imagine a more wonderful privilege, or a more challenging responsibility, than to be the human parents of the Son of God? The direction their future took was not what they had planned, but it was so much better.

Have you ever considered that God could do that kind of thing in your life? Not that you would be made the parents of the Son of God, but that God would take what seems to be an interruption, an unforeseen problem, and use it to set your life on a new and better path.

Whatever interruption you may be enduring right now, why not look at it in a different light, and ask, "God, are you using this to do something great in my life?" Then begin to look for the marvelous things He will do.

Whatever interruption you may be experiencing this Christmas, there is one thing you can do: stop and give thanks to God for Christ Jesus. And as you praise and thank God, even in the midst of your interruptions, some of the peace that Christ Jesus came to bring will be yours.