Chances are....
When the wood for the feeding trough was fashioned together by hands that knew there was a need for something to feed animals—chances are he didn't think beyond the immediate need.
If the innkeeper/stable owner didn't make it himself, he purchased it from a carpenter. Whoever made it, never in a million years would have dreamed that those pieces of wood would have the ability to be a bed for a king. Never. Kings slept in opulence. No silks or linens too fine or grand for the bed of a king. But this would be no ordinary king. This king didn't come demanding or expecting to be treated like royalty. This king came needing to be fed, held and loved.
When the exhausted and worried looking man and his oh-so-pregnant young wife showed up--looking ever much the weary traveler, his initial thoughts were not to offer the stable. Chances are, until he looked into the eyes of the desperate, he didn't think beyond his lack of provision. He was full-up. He may have been getting ready to hang the "no-vacancy" sign out front to keep people from knocking –to keep people from seeking.... for there was nothing to find...........
At his house.
Chances are, when he met the gaze, her eyes likely full of fear—he had compassion and, in that compassion, he suddenly remembered what he did have. The pleading expression from her face may have been the catalyst for his mind to remember his animals. Their lodging would be smelly for sure, but just maybe it would give them just enough rest so that they could move on the next morning.
He handed them no key to a great room with a view, but chances are, he simply pointed them in the direction they needed to go to find their shelter for the night.
Chances are, he was clueless about what would take place that night. The Bible never mentions anything about the innkeeper having a dream or an angel coming to him to give him his next instructions. He was simply part of the scene that ushered in the King of Kings.
Maybe the hands that created the manger felt a tingling that night. There was no earthly audience, except perhaps the animals. Chances are they sniffed change in the air. Not like a storm coming... but maybe they sensed something special was going to happen and they wanted to be close enough to see.
Chances are, if there were animals already bedded down for the night, neither Joseph nor Mary would have disturbed their sleep. I don't believe they were the pushy or demanding type of people. If it took longer for their food to arrive at their table, I doubt very seriously they would have been rude to the waitress.
Long before the movie series, "The Chosen" came out, I had read and created my own scenes and movie reel in my mind for this set-up. In the late 1980s, I wrote a Christmas play and as I was writing in a tiny borrowed office, I saw the words of Scripture, sacred as they are, roll through my mind, as scenes from an old movie, but in full-technicolor. The choir director helped get the music together for each scene and I loved the whole process. Until just now, I had laid that memory in the back of my mind filing cabinet.
I had prayed about it before I started writing—and prayed constantly through it. Not fancy words... just "help me".
Chances are—you think what you do for God has to be grand for Him to receive glory. But did you ever consider the smallest acts of obedience bring him as much glory as the grandest gesture?
You may not ever be asked to put up weary travelers for the night. But if a friend or your pastor expresses a need from the pulpit for anything—before you let that opportunity slide by, stop and remember the innkeeper. He had nothing left… except something that would appear insignificant. Chances are what you have to offer is exactly what is needed.
What are the chances during this holiday season, you will get to witness a miracle—maybe not in your own life… but in the life of someone else? I think chances are good. Some may say, “this” is the season for miracles…but chances are—every season of life is the season for miracles. Chances are… I’m right.
For the full and completely accurate story, read the second chapter of Luke and Matthew 1:18-25.
Love love this Angie.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at how God has supplied me stories that he breaks down to read to children & church . What touched my heart one year the men said ' "speak up we can't hear you good.".