Sid Gilbreath was on his way home from work one cold Christmas
Eve. His family was waiting on him to arrive so they could eat dinner and start
their holiday traditions. As he weaved his way through rush hour traffic Sid saw
something that changed his plans:
As I rode behind a
city bus I thought, “Everyone else is home waiting to enjoy a holiday dinner.”
Until I noticed the two people up ahead by the side of the road. A woman with a
small child. She waved anxiously as the bus got near, but the driver didn’t
stop. Just passed them right by in a cloud of exhaust. Why didn’t he
stop for them? Express bus? Out of service?
The air cleared, and I saw
the woman and her child closely. No, the bus wasn’t out of service. The driver
hadn’t stopped because they were black. That was the way it was in 1957, even
on a cold winter’s night. What could I do? I had potatoes, carrots and pot
roast waiting for me at home—not to mention a mother-in-law. But that woman and
her son sure looked desperate. I felt the Lord promoting me to do something. How
could I just drive past? I slowed to a crawl by the bus stop and rolled down
the window. “Is there some way I can help you?”
The
woman pulled her coat closer around her, shivering. The little boy looked about
seven. He wiped away tears with the back of his hand. “Two buses passed us by,”
the woman said, clearly trying to control her frustration. “My son, Michael,
here is supposed to play the Angel of the Lord in our church Christmas pageant
tonight. It starts in less than an hour. I don’t know when another bus will
come by.”
I
pushed the passenger door open. “Climb in,” I said. “I’ll drive you to the
church.” Michael clambered into the back
seat and the mother introduced herself, “I’m Mrs. Johnson,” she said and gave
me the address of her church about 20 minutes away. “If you don’t mind,” she
said, “I need to help Michael go over his lines.”
Mrs.
Johnson prompted her son, “For unto you is born…” “Jesus the Lord!” Michael
said. I gave him a thumbs-up in the rearview mirror. “Now say it just like the
Bible does,” Mrs. Johnson said. “For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior…” “Who is Christ the Lord,” Michael said solemnly. “Now the very
last part,” Mrs. Johnson said. “And this shall be a sign unto you…” Michael
picked up his cue right away. “Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger.”
Over
and over Michael practiced his lines. By the time we arrived at the church, he
was letter-perfect. Mrs. Johnson and Michael stepped out of the car. “Thank you
from the bottom of my heart,” she said. “It was no trouble,” I said. “Sharing
Christmas Eve with you and Michael is a gift I’ll never forget.”[1]
Think of it—Sid was faced
with a Christmas choice that presented itself as an interruption—obey the Lord’s
inner prompting or go about his business. Of course, only after he obeyed did, he
receive understanding and an unforgettable blessing.
While studying the original
Christmas story again, I was reminded how the theme of divine interruptions and
obedience is played out in the lives of Mary and Joseph. Their lives were
rocked by the unexpected news that Mary would carry the Christ child. Yet, each
one of them responded with obedience. Mary answered the angel Gabriel, “38 Behold
the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to
me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Likewise, we read of Joseph’s quiet
obedience, “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him . . .” (Matt. 1:24).
One of the hidden lessons
of Christmas is the blessing of obedience. Mary and Joseph did not understand
God’s complete plan. Even after they had experienced His miraculous conception
and birth, they still marveled at the things said about Jesus. Was their
obedience easy? Not at all! Just think of traveling 80 miles by donkey through
the desert with a wife in her third-trimester! But, despite the unknowns and
hardships, Scripture never indicates that any of these people regretted or
second-guessed their willing participation in this turning point of history.
We marvel at the obedience
of Jesus’ earthly parents, but what’s even more amazing is His obedience to the
Father’s will. Philippians 2 reminds us of Jesus’ surrender “5 Let this mind be
in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not
consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And
being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the
cross.”
Never has One been so high
and stooped so low. As we think about obedience, we must look at Jesus—our Lord
was willing to obey, are we any better? Perhaps, this Christmas the greatest
gift we can give our Lord is our complete obedience. -DM
[1]
Sid Gilbreath, “Blessed by a Christmas Angel,” Guideposts, 24 October 2018 <https://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/angels/blessed-by-a-christmas-angel>
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