Wherever, whenever, whatever…3 very simple words right? I was sitting in church over this past weekend and one challenge they gave out was to take these words and write them somewhere you could see them all year. Thinking more on this it brought me back to thinking about the traditional Christmas story. Not the one with Santa and lots of presents, but the one regarding Jesus. Where an angel tells Mary and Joseph that they will have a Son who will end up being the Savior of the word. After much traveling, there is not enough room for them to stay in the inn so instead they have baby Jesus in a manger and people come from far and wide to see Him. We all, I’m sure, at one point or another have heard this story, but have we really truly heard it? Have we taken it in?

Imagine what it would have been like to be someone like the inn keeper. Someone who was just on a typical day of work and came across another customer who needed a place to stay. Looking at his occupancy rates I’m sure he was truthful when he said that he just didn’t have the space, but in turn he ended up rejecting the Son of God and the parents that were going to give birth to Him. Imagine the pit in his stomach when he found out that the customer he turned away ended up being God Himself.

Next, consider the shepherds. These men worked hard day and night to take care of sheep, making sure they were spotless and without blemish so they would be acceptable as sacrifices for Passover. Imagine them walking into the scene, seeing a baby wrapped up in burial clothes lying in the same place they lay their sheep before they were to be sacrificed. Knowing the promise God had made them of a Messiah to come think of their reaction when they laid eyes on basically the perfectly symbolic scene for the lamb of God on what started as a typical day on the field.

Imagine Mary and Joseph, two young people who had acted righteously in the eyes of the Lord, receiving the news that not only were they going to have a child but this child would be the one born of the Holy Spirit and the one who would bring ultimate reconciliation to God and His people. Think about the looks they probably got, the rumors that were spread about their perceived unfaithfulness to God, the pressure that existed just by knowing they were responsible for raising the Son of God. All unexpected.

Each of these people encountered Jesus during this time one way or another without recognizing or knowing what was to come. The inn keeper, for example, rejected Jesus without even knowing who He was. The shepherds followed blindly not sure what was to come after hearing the angels' message. Mary and Joseph were obedient despite their reputation and the sacrifices they had to make in the process of having Jesus. We too have encounters with Jesus and His people all the time. We are handed opportunities to interact with people, quiet times to sit with God, and even mistakes to see God’s grace and love actively alive for us. God shows up at the most random times and in the most unexpected ways, but what will our reaction be? This season in reflecting on that I can see where those who truly loved God, who invited Him in and walked with Him consistently would go wherever, whenever and do whatever or even give up whatever. Their heart was always open even when it was unexpected or they were unsure.

The Christmas story is only one example of a mix-matched group of imperfect people showing how they react to God. There are many similarities in it that compare with us today. When looking at the people, some were open, some were not. Some were aware, some were not, but also some were blessed, some were not.

This season my challenge to you is to remember this saying: wherever, whenever, whatever. Who would you be in the Christmas story and what would your reaction to Jesus be knowing it was Him or not? Would you make room? Would you blindly follow? Would you remain obedient to the end? Is He ultimately worth it for you to go wherever, whenever and do whatever? We never know who the person is that we will meet, or what could result from a conversation or opportunity. Yes, it can be challenging and many times we will fail at it but the beautiful encouraging truth that keeps us going lies in the manger. He saves, He loves, He offers grace time and time again. The rewards are endless. Just as those in the Christmas story came to see this baby would save them and the entire world. Who knows what God wants to do in your life or through your life when you react open to Him wherever, whenever, and with whatever. Merry Christmas friends.