It’s a grand and often glorious story filled with exciting and dramatic events, and a visit by the angel Gabriel set it all in motion.
There was a virgin birth, an unwed mother, a father’s dream, a baby in a manger, angels singing to shepherds, wise men following a star, the slaughter of babies, a narrow escape to Egypt, and then a quiet life in Nazareth as the baby in the manger grows physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually into a man.
Lawrence Kohlberg outlined six stages of growth in his ethics and morality.
The first level is “reward and punishment” where we make choices based on gaining rewards and/or avoiding punishments. Next is “self-interest” asking “what’s in it for me?” The third is “pleasing others” or wanting people to like me. The fourth is “law and order” or following the rules and laws in place.
The fifth level is a “social contract” or agreeing with the community to act in certain ways. And the sixth level is “principled” or establishing a personal ethical and moral foundation.
We’ll add a seventh and highest, the will of God!
“And when His parents had completed everything in accordance with the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. Now the Child continued to grow and to become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.”
— Luke 2: 39-40
Nazareth was never a big city nor was it famous or powerful. Yet God chose Nazareth as the place His son would grow up and verse 40 is repeated later in Luke.
“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.”
— Luke 2: 52
He grew mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. And now we know God can use ordinary people and ordinary places to transform the world.
We learned that from Joseph and Mary, who trusted God and obeyed him every step of the way.
We already knew that, but we don’t often think about it, although we do sing about it once in a while — “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way!”
Maybe you remember from last week, the “magi” saw a single star, but they were wise enough to follow that single star into the adventure of their lives.
I’m reminded of the song, “One step at a time…” and it’s been my experience that God seldom gives us a roadmap to the end of the journey.
But he does give us directions “one step at a time.”
And you won’t find a
better GPS through life than the will of God.
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga. With wife, Mary Ella, they are missionaries to the Navajo Reservation.
