It’s important to take a moment and reflect not just on the nativity story but on how God's faithfulness has been woven through our own lives. In the Gospel of Matthew, particularly in Matthew 1:18 to Matthew 2:23, we witness God’s faithfulness in a way that is often unseen but always present. Just as God’s care for His people is evident in the birth of Jesus, it is often in looking back on our own lives that we can see the fullness of God’s faithfulness—
Unseen in the moment but unmistakable when we reflect on it.
In these verses, the phrase "to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet" is repeated several times, pointing us to a powerful truth: God’s faithfulness is not random or reactionary but woven into the fabric of time, fulfilling His promises and plans even when they are not immediately visible. Matthew 1:22-23 states that the events surrounding Jesus’ birth were to fulfill the prophecy of the virgin birth. This isn't just a note in the narrative—it's a declaration that God’s faithfulness is always present, even when we cannot yet see the outcome.
Joseph's role in this story highlights how God's faithfulness often comes without immediate clarity. When Joseph learns that Mary is pregnant, he could have reacted out of fear or anger, but he chooses to trust in God’s message through an angel, accepting the responsibility of caring for Mary and Jesus (Matthew 1:20-24). Joseph’s obedience demonstrates how faithfulness works—not through visible signs at every moment, but through trust in the unseen plan of God, even when the path ahead isn’t entirely clear.
In Matthew 2, we see God’s faithfulness continue as the wise men follow a star to find the newborn King, and God guides Joseph to protect Jesus from King Herod's evil plan. The fulfillment of prophecy continues to unfold with each step: “Out of Egypt I called my son” (Matthew 2:15), showing us that God's plan is always unfolding, even when we cannot always see it in real time. The same is true in our lives—God is guiding us, protecting us, and fulfilling His promises in ways we may not immediately perceive.
The beauty of this story is that while God’s faithfulness is present from the very beginning, it often isn’t visible as it happens.
In the moment, Mary, Joseph, and others could only respond with trust and obedience. It is only in reflection, after time has passed, that the truth of God's presence and purpose becomes clear. In the same way, we often look back at the seasons of our lives and realize how God has been there, guiding us, fulfilling promises, and working things together for good, even when we couldn’t see it at the time.
This Christmas, as we reflect on the birth of Jesus, we’re invited to also reflect on the unseen faithfulness of God in our own lives. While we may be quick to ask for more—more blessings, more clarity, more comfort—let us also take a step back and recognize where God has already been faithful. Look at this past year and see the times when God has protected you, provided for you, or guided you in ways that weren’t immediately visible. When we pause to reflect, we begin to see the threads of God’s faithfulness that have always been present, even if we couldn’t recognize them in the moment.
The challenge of faithfulness is that it often doesn't make sense while we're living through it. But when we sit and reflect on our journey, we start to see how God's unseen presence was there every step of the way. This season of Christmas is the perfect time to slow down and recognize not only the faithfulness we hope for in the future but also the ways God has been with us in the past and present.
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