Lake Deaton at Home

Writer’s Name: Jim Divine

Writer’s Ministry: Pastor

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

In 1995 Loida and I were living in San Jose, Costa Rica, while I was attending Language School. At the last minute, we made a crazy decision to travel by bus from San Jose, through Nicaragua, up to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, to visit Loida’s family. I know it was nothing like the trip that Joseph and Mary took, but it sure seemed like it, as a young family traveling through two border crossings and three different countries on a couple-day journey to Christmas.

Traveling for those two days we watched as poor local Campesinos came on and off the bus. As we watched these people and as they watched us, I couldn’t help but think about their stories. Whom were they going to visit? Why were they traveling? Were they going to celebrate the season with friends in some resort town, like we are known to do in the US? Or, more likely, were they headed back to their ancestral homes to visit family and return to their roots?

Mary and Joseph were on their journey not by choice but because of a census. This young woman, ready to give birth, found herself traveling to her husband’s ancestral home. Was she contemplating her baby––soon to be born? Or the angelic visit that announced that he was going to be the Messiah? Could she live up to God’s call upon her life, was she able to be the mother of Emanuel?

We can only speculate what Mary was thinking, all we know is that she was faithful! Faithful to continue the journey, faithful to keep moving forward. Maybe that’s the lesson of today. What journey are we on, that God has given us? Are we faithfully moving ahead and keeping our eyes on the Lord?

Daily Prayer: Lord, like Mary and Joseph, I know that I am on a journey. Continue to call me to move ahead and help me continue to say yes to keeping my eyes on you.  Amen.

Discussion/Reflection Questions:

1. Where is God leading you on your journey at this point in your life?
2. Are you finding it easy to follow God on the journey or are you struggling?
3. On your journey are you taking time to see who is with you traveling the same road?