The Wondrous Surprise

Everyone has a different take on surprises.

Some love them, some hate them. Most everyone has experienced surprises and some have had a larger impact than others.

Unprepared

There are things that happen in our life that we are simply unprepared for.

At Jericho, Israel had no way to SCALE the walls

Against Midian, Gideon’s army had only 300 men

Against Goliath, David had no ARMOR or SWORD

Mary, newly betrothed, planning a wedding and life with Joseph, did not have a BABY on her mind.

Mary, newly betrothed, planning a wedding and life with Joseph, did not have a BABY on her mind.

Her preparation was irrelevant because God was in charge.

Her cousin, Elizabeth was already pregnant too so she had a place to go to prepare herself for what was coming.

He always prepares you for what He calls you to.

Unplanned

No matter how well we think we have our life planned out, there is no way to plan for every contingency.

Many people have plans for when they are going to graduate, get married, have children, buy a house...

Amos 7:14–15 NASB95

Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. “But the Lord took me from following the flock and the Lord said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’

Acts 9:3–6 NASB95

As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”

Acts 9:3-6

Joseph’s plans to prepare to wed Mary definitely DID NOT include a baby.

Amos

Amos 7:14–15 NASB95

Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. “But the Lord took me from following the flock and the Lord said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’

Regardless of your plan, God has THE plan!

Unworthy

There are some moments in life that overwhelm us with an awareness of our unworthiness.

Romans 3:

Romans 3:9–18 NASB95

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”; “Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, And the path of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 3:23 HCSB

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23 NASB95

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

For each of us, we must stand in UTTER AMAZEMENT that God would give His Son for us!

Unfazed

There are others in life who seem to be completely unaffected by unusual circumstances.

They seem to know the plan and are prepared for the moment.

When God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus was unfazed by the plan, He PLANNED it all along.

The Wondrous Surprise of Christmas is that Jesus WAS NOT SURPRISED!