Its a Wonderful Life –
DAY FOUR – IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Joseph and Mary have completed a little over half of their trip, but it is proving to be more challenging than first thought. Their journey through the Judean Desert was during the winter when it is in the 30s during the day and often would pour rain.
It was a Nasty and Miserable Journey
They would have had to travel on unpaved and hilly paths. There were several potentially terrifying dangers in that region of the heavily forested valley of the Jordan River including lions, bears, and wild boars. Travelers along that route were warned of bandits, desert pirates, and robbers. It would have been a nasty and miserable journey.
Jesus the Hope of the World
Thankfully Joseph and Mary didn’t give up but persevered to complete their trip and fulfill their purpose. They may not have realized it, but their lives would end up impacting millions of people and all of the world. How? – God used them to bring us Jesus the hope of the world.
God Wants to Use You to Impact the World Too
Often the journey of life can be difficult with many challenges along the way. Don’t give up! You may not realize it but God is using your life to touch and impact the lives of many people.
Don’t Go by What You See
During the Christmas season, I love watching the movie “A Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart. It’s about a man named George Bailey who grows up in a small town with aspirations of becoming rich and seeing the world. However, something would always happen that kept him in that small town overseeing the local savings and loan. One day because of a mistake, not by him, it looks like he is going to go to jail.
God Works Everything for Good
As a result, he’s ready to end his life when an angel appears to him and begins to show him what the world would be like if he’d never been born. Through a series of events George Bailey comes to realize that even though he never made it out of that small town or made a lot of money, he had a wonderful life that impacted many more people than he ever realized.
Thank God for Where He has Placed You
Just like George, we all want to be successful and do something really significant, but often forget how our lives impact those around us in what may seem like insignificant ways. This Christmas remember to thank God for where He’s placed you and the people you are able to reach and impact. You have “A Wonderful Life”
Our Hope is in Jesus
During the Christmas season, keep your eyes and heart open for unexpected ways that God will reveal to you the hope of Christmas. God wants us to expect the unexpected. We walk by faith and not sight. Our hope is Jesus!
Matthew 12:21 (NLT)
“And his name will be the hope of all the world.“