The beginning of a new year is when we set goals. 2021 was no different: I wanted to read the whole Bible over the course of 2021. Did I get it accomplished? Well, let's just say that Genesis and Exodus took a good chunk of time to get through. However, my readings challenged me to think. Wednesday evenings in Bozeman were my favorite - they were Bible study nights and I had the opportunity to ask lots of questions. We typically gathered at someone's home, enjoyed fellowship over a meal, and then dove into the Word. While I was there, we started working our way through 1 Samuel and I always enjoyed sharing what I had been reading in my own Bible study I was working through, and ask more questions.
As the studies continued, we ran into several people that were 'nobodies', but became 'somebodies' after they committed their lives to serving the Lord. Let's visit a couple.
One of the most prominent characters we see immediately in the Bible is Abraham. God tests him, but Abraham proves to God that he can trust him. In Genesis 12, God said to Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing." We hear this over the course of the next several books (and then over and over again through Abraham's descendants and the whole Bible). But here's the thing: Abraham didn't come from anyone significant, he grew up with idol-worshipping parents, and was an older gentleman by the time that he turned to God.
Secondly, we see Joseph. The 12th son of Jacob (until Benjamin was born), a shepherd and not well-liked by his fellow brothers. Poor Joseph was sold to a caravan, fell into some bad times thanks to Potiphar's wife, but the tables turned when Joseph interpreted dreams for the king of Egypt and he appointed Joseph to prepare the country for the years of famine that Joseph had seen in his dreams. When Canaan was feeling the effects of the famine, Joseph's brothers headed to Egypt for grain and there was a big reconciliation and lesson in forgiveness. But again, we saw that God took someone very insignificant and made them prominent.
When you've got a long drive, it's only fitting that you turn on a couple of sermons to pass the time. I think of it as a great time to learn something new. It only becomes more fitting to get in the Christmas spirit and tune in to Cornerstone Church of Ames on Apple Podcasts. This year, Cornerstone is focusing on "Glory to God in the Lowest." The first proclamation of the good news was made to shepherds, the lowest of people on the rungs of society. God revealed his glory to the lowest and through the lowest.
So, we see the virgin Mary. In the sixth month of Elizabeth's (mother of John the Baptist) pregnancy, an angel appeared to Mary saying, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” In this instant, we find that Mary is from nowhere Nazareth (a teeny-tiny backwoods town like Liscomb), a commoner (peasant) with no wealth, young (mid-teens), pure, and engaged to Joseph who is a carpenter and shepherd. But she was a servant of the Lord.
God takes insignificant people and makes them prominent. We see that in our lives every day. A great example of this is my friend, Lisa. We met at a square dancing event at the fairgrounds in Bozeman the first week I was there and she became a great friend during my time in Montana. I didn't realize what role she would play in my life that evening, but over the course of the next several months, she became the person that I enjoyed visiting with about what I was reading, and our fellowship on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings were an integral part of my week.
In the spirit of Christmas, I had to share this story and findings over the past several months. With God, all things are possible. He takes the insignificant people and turns them into our friends, upsetting our worlds for the better. During this season, I pray that we find those people and grow with them in faith. May we remember the true reason for the season.
Christmas Blessings,
Lauren
