It's No Coincidence

 

co·in·ci·dence

[kəʊˈɪn(t)sɪd(ə)n(t)s]

noun

coincidence (noun)

coincidences (plural noun)

co-incidence (noun)

co-incidences (plural noun)

1.     a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection:

 

 

I had to laugh earlier this morning as I read the portion of the Christmas Story from Luke chapter 2, when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple in order to present Him to the Lord and offer a sacrifice as prescribed by the Law.  As they entered into the temple courtyard an older man approached them and Luke writes:

“Moved by the Spirit, Simeon went into the temple courtyard. Mary and Joseph were bringing the child Jesus into the courtyard at the same time. They brought Him so that they could do for Him what Moses’ Teachings required.  Then Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God…”

The picture of Simeon walking up to the couple and taking the child in his arms set off a flurry of memories of when my wife and I initially walked into the Baptist church we attended, proudly carrying our week old, first-born child Josh.  You have to understand here, that Piper had been raised in that church and was well known and respected by just about everyone.  When I started attending the church with her as a senior in high school, it became very evident to me that Piper was “the little darling” of the church.  It was like she was good friends with everyone in the congregation… be they old or young!

Then when we were married, we almost immediately were asked to take over the youth ministry and became very visible to the congregation in that position.  It was like we lived the first five years of our marriage progressively in front of them.  Therefore, when we walked in on that Sunday morning, we were seen as family by just about everyone… and you guessed it… everyone seemed to think that our baby was their baby and could hold him whenever and as long as they wanted!

But… even though they felt like they knew and loved us…They had not considered (nor yet met) wise, sensitive to the Spirit, and very protective Mama Piper!  She was very selective as to whom she would let hold the baby (as she was with all four of our kids in their infancies) and kept a watchful eye when the child was in someone else’s arms besides her own or mine!

So… when Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms without a recorded word from either Mary or Joseph, it was pretty clear to me, that Mary, like Piper, either sensed God’s anointing on the man, or that she was already familiar and comfortable with him.

I also laughed… or maybe it was more of a light-hearted “Ah-Ha!” when I finished that part of Jesus’ story at the temple, that also included their meeting with the Prophetess Anna who spoke about Jesus and His eventual ministry to Isreal.  What caught my attention there was that her meeting with Mary, Joseph and the baby, similarly to Simeon’s, was not a coincidence, but a divinely planned event.  After Luke gives us a little background information on Anna he wrote,

“At that moment she came up to Mary and Joseph and began to thank God. She spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for Jerusalem to be set free.” (Luke 2:36-38 n- God’s Word ©) 

The “Ah-Ha!” slipped out of my mouth because a light went on in my brain as I recalled all the other divinely planned or orchestrated events that had also taken place previous to these at the temple.  From the very beginning of the Christmas Story from Zechariah, to Mary, to Elizabeth and to Joseph, as well as all the supporting cast, we see God’s hand as he masterfully puts people, places and various resources together in order to deliver both the message and the Messenger of His plan of salvation for mankind on this earth.

I couldn’t help but smile, as I too, have learned through many personal experiences, the ways in which God responds to our EXPECTANT faith in Him and His Word.  Like with each of the characters in the Christmas Story and then throughout history since then… a history that most definitely includes both you and me… we can repeatedly see the way that God supernaturally puts people, places and things (ie; resources) together in behalf of those of us who live our individual lives in EXPECTANT faith in Christ and His anointed Word of TRUTH!

So… When I gain revelation knowledge and personal understanding of a truth in God’s Word and then stand on that truth for a need in my life, I can stay excited about His promised results because I continually keep my heart and my mind on the EXPECTATION of God bringing together whatever people, places and/or resources that my be needed… for His Word to be manifested in the fulfillment of my need.

What do you think about that?  Is that how you walk in your daily life… I sure hope so… because for me… the WOW FACTOR of God putting things together for me…

NEVER GETS OLD!

Isn’t God Good!  I pray that you are in the midst of the very best Christmas/Holiday season in your life… so far!

So, stay EXCITED!  Stay EXPECTANT! and stay WATCHFUL! for God’s personal involvement in everything you do!