The Least Likely Place

This is now the third post in a Christmas series entitled: “Lessons from the Holy Family.” (You can read the first and second posts here: A “God” Thing or Marriage Made in Heaven.) And the third lesson from the holy family (Mary, Joseph and Jesus) is this (it’s actually very similar to Lesson #1 in the first post): Let’s not overlook what God’s doing in the least likely place with the least likely people. This point finds further emphasis in the following quote (from “The Christ of Christmas” by Calvin Miller gleaned at sermoncentral.com): “He (the Lord) started the whole adventure of Christianity in Nazareth. Yes, Nazareth. Why Nazareth? Because there He found a woman who was completely yielded to His purpose for her life. Great works of God rarely start in big places. Rather, they start in small places – in some person with a big commitment.” Which got me to thinking: Where might Jesus be found if He were on the earth today? Well, of course, He’d be on Larry King, The 700 Club, Fox News or some other media outlet He would use. He would preach at the Crystal Cathedral, Willow Creek and Rick Warren’s church. After all, that’s the way to reach the masses. That’s the way to get the message out. Right? And don’t get me wrong. It’s not like I’m against using all means available to reach people and preach the Gospel. And yet I still think it’s interesting that the Lord chose to come to the planet and be born in a time where there were no cell phones or internet or mp3 players or Twitter. I think it says a lot when you stop and think when Christ appeared. I mean, if He would have only come in our day, just think! Then the message would spread. After all, we’d be there to help! A Scripture passage to keep in mind that relates to this Lesson #3 is Isaiah 55:8-9: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'” And did you maybe need to hear this today? And so where’s the least likely place in your experience and sphere of influence? I’m telling you, that’s where Christ is and is at work, if you would only look close enough. Watch for Part 4 in the “Lessons from the Holy Family” series to come soon.