Pastor Commentaries,

Dean Kurpjuweit, Pastor - www.nextchristiancommunity.org
Mary had a long journey to arrive in Bethlehem.  She was 9 months pregnant and rode on top of a donkey across a hot, dusty desert.  And the reason she did this was to fulfill the legal requirement of returning to one’s hometown for a census. I am rather confident that no pregnant woman would be pleased: not even Mary.  The journey would have been long, difficult, taxing and seemingly, a little unnecessary.

Often our spiritual journey feels the same way.  There are desert experiences and times of spiritual dryness.  We ponder if it really is worth it.  We wonder what the point of it all is.  We feel like it is taking a long time to get anywhere.  I think when we are at this point, we should remember Mary’s journey.  It turns out the reason she had to go to Bethlehem was to fulfill the prophecy of where the Messiah would be born.  She likely didn’t appreciate the journey, but once she knew the reason why Bethlehem was the destination, I am guessing that the memories of the ride there quickly faded.

So too can it be with us.  Often the journey isn’t what you would want or expect.  Perhaps you don’t even understand where it is you are headed and why.  But once you get there, it will make sense and God will have something incredible in store for you.