What are your regular routines? Do you find a certain kind of comfort in having an everyday regimen? Is it annoying when someone breaks in and infringes on your established pattern?

God interrupted Mary, Joseph, and others to bring the first Christmas to humanity. St. Paul called it the “indescribable gift.”

2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

The Indescribable Gift

The “indescribable gift” is the gift of God interrupting our routines so He can bring His very own problem-solving presence into a bleak situation. To solve the sin problem we inherited from Adam (and the sins we chose for ourselves), God became one of us on that first Christmas. It’s called “the Incarnation” (Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; 1 Timothy 1:12-17).

Jesus came not to condemn us but to save us (John 3:17). He came to destroy (“undo” in the Greek) the works of the devil (1 John 3:8); sin, sickness, disease, deception, lack, etc.

Sometimes God seems to interrupt our routines to unravel some danger or trap the devil is weaving for us. God is doing something to turn everything around for good.

Can you imagine the interruption to young Mary when Gabriel brought her the news that she was chosen to give birth to the Savior? She was probably busy planning her upcoming wedding. Yet God interrupted her to allow her to encounter the Living Word of God—the very presence of God himself, living and growing inside her body.

Experience God’s Presence

Because of the incarnation, you and I can experience God himself living inside of us.

Jesus was born, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, loved people, showed everyone what the Father was like, and undid many works of the devil in people’s lives. And the jealous religious leaders had him executed.

But he rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit to come and be the supernatural presence of God in our lives today.

Have you ever yearned for God’s presence in your life or longed for Him to help you get through a really rough situation? Moses told God he would not go anywhere unless the Lord’s presence went with him. The first Christmas in Bethlehem when Jesus was born, spoke of God’s presence and how He wants a senior role in our lives.

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

His Name shall be called Immanuel (God with us, or God’s presence here). God’s presence sometimes interrupts our routines to bring us a special gift of protection, healing, or a word from heaven that will direct our path.

Yes, God may interrupt your routine at times. But it’s always to bring you something good—really good! Expect something good this Christmas, even when you feel like your plan has been interrupted.