I love Christmas. I love it because somewhere someone will ask the Christmas questions: What’s the big deal about the baby in the manger? Who was he? What does his birth have to do with me?-Max Lucado

Recently, I began studying Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado with Proverbs 31 Ministries. The words quoted above immediately gripped my heart. Thirty-eight years ago, as the holidays approached, I began to ask those very questions.

Growing up as an unbeliever in this country, I remember only two snapshots of Jesus: a baby in a cradle at Christmas, and a man on a cross at Easter. What happened in between those two events remained a mystery.

But just before Thanksgiving that year, I accepted an invitation to visit my friend’s church. The first message I ever heard came from the gospel of Mark. Intrigued, I quickly agreed to personally study the Bible with one of the women’s ministry leaders.

Because I knew basically nothing about Jesus, we began with the gospel of John. Over the next several weeks, I captured more snapshots of Jesus, which began to complete His story for me. 

Jesus: Sovereign Creator

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3 NIV)

Perhaps this is old news for some of you, but I had never known Jesus as the creator of the world. I knew the Bible claimed God created the world in six days. But a careful look at those Scriptures in Genesis revealed so much more:

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26 NIV)

The use of the plural pronoun, “us” indicates more than one. On that day I learned about the trinity of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They all participated in the creation of the world.

What a game changer! Knowing Jesus created the world brought new significance to everything. When we studied the parable of the sower, I realized His intentionality in designing seeds, rocks, weeds, birds and different types of soil. He knew one day He would use these everyday items to teach us spiritual truths about our hearts and our ability to receive His words.

On a more personal level, Jesus created each of us by knitting us together in our mother’s womb  (Psalm 51). 

In Acts 17, we learn He determined the time and place of our birth.

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. (Acts 17:26-27 NIV)

People say things happen for a reason. This Scripture confirms it. Everything has a purpose: to bring us closer to Him.

While this Scripture promises He is never far from us, another one reminds all believers He never leaves us:

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b NIV)

However, when I hear this verse, I hear it as:

And, Shirley, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Perhaps you will think me self-indulgent, but I can’t help but believe Jesus, as the Sovereign Creator, meant for me to hear this Scripture this way.

Orchestrating my birth, He pressed the name Shirley on my mother’s heart. When He created all the languages, He actually designed opportunities for puns. Above all, He sent me a woman who loved puns to share His gospel with me!

All of us can find examples of His sovereign design on our lives, because He personally invests in us:

Jesus, the Sovereign Creator, personally crafts our stories. 

As I continue down the road, I pray to notice the personal touches of the One who crafts my story. Wherever you are in your journey, I pray you, too, will be able to do the same.