The Awkward Compass
Luke 2:1-7 – The Birth of Jesus.
- “The Awkward Compass”
- Joseph and Mary take a three day trek to Bethlehem because of the census
- The census was used for the purposes of taxation and military service.
- The Jews however, were exempt from military service because their law forbade the carrying of weapons on the Sabbath, and because soldiers were expected to take part in pagan religious ceremonies.
- This again shows the odd relationship between the Romans and the Jews.
- The Romans allowed the Jews certain rights but left them at the same time in no doubt as to who was boss.
- So for this young couple, the three day trek was not welcomed. It was timely, costly, frustrating and awkward.
- But out of obedience they did it.
- What they perhaps did not realize, was that God was using this journey to fulfill an ancient prophecy.
- Sometimes we think we are being used by our bosses but we must always remember our bosses are being used by God.
- People do not dictate our path . . . God does.
- He is the ultimate authority.
- Obedience, even to imperfect and ungodly leadership can acts as a compass.
- Those who reject all authority over them, using their imperfection as an excuse, can often end up very lost.
- The key is to serve people as we would serve God.
- The irony is that sometimes you cannot separate the two because God sees our acts of service to others as our acts of service to Him.
- Joseph and Mary obey and their obedience acts as a compass leading them to fulfill their destiny.
- Something for me to think about today.
This reminds me of teaching I heard from Pastor George in Brazil. He spoke about obedience and how we don’t really know what it means to REALLY be obedient to leaders nowadays because at the first glimpse of differences we disobey them, we talk about them. He shared his testimony about his obedience to his leaders, even when everything seemed to be going wrong and wasn’t the path he was expecting.
He’s one of the humblest and most servant hearted people I know, and I’m sure this is a direct result of being obedient to his leaders the same way he’s obedient to God.
Yes i was really impressed with George when I met him!