Interruption:
An act or instance of interrupting. A temporary cessation; intermission.
Disruption:
Forcible separation or division into parts. A radical change, especially involving the introduction of something new.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby mlying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:1-20 ESV
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:19 ESV
And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. Luke 2:17 ESV
A divine disruption is a message from God.
To keep my life divinely disrupted, I need God’s word
I need to hear it
And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. Luke 2:18 ESV
I need to read it
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 199:105 ESV
I need to study it
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 ESV
My Notes
Personal Reflection Guide
Set aside a space and time where you can find peace and quiet and just get away from the chaos of this season to meet with God. Allow yourself to let all other distractions go and begin to reflect on this past year. What were some of the greatest disruptions you and your family experienced? How did you cope with them? Looking back, can you see how God might have used those disruptions to speak to you in new or unique ways that might not have happened otherwise? In Isaiah 43:1-28, God speaks through his prophet Isaiah to the Israelite people about how he alone is their salvation. He tells the people, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (verses 18-19). As we head into a new year, how can God’s word encourage you to look ahead to the “new things” God wants to do in your life? What way is he making for you in the wilderness and what stream may he be causing to spring up in the wasteland? Consider finding a passage in God’s word that can guide you as we enter 2021 to remember that God is always transforming us and making us new, even in, sometimes especially in, the darkest and bleakest of places.
