Alt. Ending to the Story

Keith Drury suggests some alternate endings to the story. Here is a slightly edited version:

1. A mom says no.
What if Mary had responded to the angel with, “No way. Not with me you won’t!”

2. A man gets a divorce.
What if Joseph had done what everyone else did—dump this girl who was pregnant-but-not-by-him?

3. A dad stays home.
What if Joseph had ducked his duty to enroll in the census so that an evil government would not get more money—besides, would God expect such a long journey with a wife 39 weeks pregnant?

4. A family skips church.
What if Joseph and Mary had skipped the temple visit so soon after childbirth—wouldn’t God be better served if they stayed under Herod’s radar?

5. Old saints keep quiet.
What if Anna and Simeon felt prompted to say something about a little child but suppressed their thoughts and kept their prayers to themselves?

6. Scholars continue to study.
What if the Wise Men had delayed action to continue studying—wouldn’t God expect them to be more thorough?

7. Workers go back to sleep.
What if the shepherds had applauded the angelic choir then rolled over and went back to sleep?

8. A Family doesn’t move.
What if Joseph had dismissed his crazy dream and stayed in Nazareth—certain it is a better place for Messiah than Egypt!

9. Scholars invite the king to worship.
What if the Wise Men did what they were told to—travel back to Jerusalem giving Herod the location where he could go worship the child?

10. A family stays put.
What if Joseph just stayed put in Egypt after Herod died—couldn’t the Savior of the world come from Egypt just as well as Israel?

Let this thought encourage you: Your life may seem rather mundane, but you never know what God will do through you. Who knows? You may be part of something much bigger than anything you can imagine! In fact, Col. 1:9-23, for example, demonstrates that “in Christ Jesus” you are!

Maranatha!