What Did You Find?

By Jarrod Spencer –

My wife and I traveled to her grandmother’s house for the holidays one year, using my father-in-law’s directions. The car we traveled in had no overhead light, so Aubrey was forced to read the directions using the under-dash light. We thought it said to look for a “green house,” however before it was too late, we realized we needed to turn at the “greenhouse,” a plant nursery. We didn’t miss our turn, but we still joke about it each time we drive by there. We were following directions but ended up with something totally different by the time we reached this part of the trip.

Finding something totally different than what we expect isn’t abnormal. It’s possible people reacted that way when Jesus was born—and even today, when they find Jesus.

There are some interesting life lessons we can learn from trips, such as when the shepherds searched for the baby Jesus. First, don’t over-plan your trip. Each day you may do much of the same thing; but don’t forget to plan for flexibility. God may throw something at you that you never thought was going to be in your day of travels. The unexpected can make it very interesting!

Second, the unexpected may actually have been planned. God brings about something that may be a surprise to you, but certainly didn’t take Him by surprise. Your day may be going the way you planned it, but when something unplanned happens, that may have been God interjecting and saying, “This is what I’ve got planned.”

Finally, reveal the manger. Have you ever hidden something behind your back that you were going to later reveal? All Christians have something they need to reveal to others—Jesus! He is our treasure. Bring Him front and center, and show others your Savior, even if the reveal wasn’t what they expected.

The shepherds found Him in a manger. You found Him somewhere else. Let’s make sure others see Him in all sorts of places.

AUTHOR QUOTE: People may not have planned to see Jesus when they met up with you, but hopefully He is exactly what they’ll find.

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them” (Luke 2:15-18 ESV).

Today’s devotional is by Jarrod Spencer. He is a seeker of God’s surprises in everyday life, looking for ways to be used by God with anyone he comes in contact with. He has a passion for encouraging people through the written word and exercises that passion with blogging and sending out a weekly text of encouragement. You can read more of his writings at http://jarrodspencer.blogspot.com and his church’s website is http://www.colbychurch.com.