Jesus chose to be in Mary’s womb. He chose to come into the world just like everyone else. He was dependent on his parents for food, clothing, shelter, and protection. When he was in the temple as a child, he willingly went back with his parents and obeyed them until it was his time to start his ministry. He could have come down in a blaze of glory from the heaven with an army of angels and wiped out all of the evil in the world. Jesus deserved so much better than a birth in a manger where the animals eat. However, he humbled himself and came as a lowly baby.

As he started his ministry, what did the people who were in his hometown and watched him grow up think about what he was doing? They watched him grow. They knew him. But how well do any of know anyone else? Even when we live with someone, we are not going to know everything about that person. What boxes do we put others into that they were in but have left that box?

People can change as they grow. However, it is hard for people to change when they stay in the same environment. Even though they want to change and strive to change, they have a hard time because others still treat them the same way. It is hard for others to change how they see us. In order for a person to change in the same environment, others will also have to be willing to change with them.

In order to change, we need to move forward. We cannot move forward if we are standing still. In order to move forward, we risk going backwards. If we stay where we are, we risk missing out on something greater than that which we have. Which risk are we willing to take? Will we risk going backwards at the chance of something greater? Or will we risk missing out on something greater in order to keep what we have? We fail 100% of the times we do not try. When we fail, we learn a lesson so it’s not for nothing. Even our failures have positives in them. We should not fear failures. God did not promise it would be easy. In fact, he said that we would face difficulties and persecutions because of him. We need to be like Peter and take that step out of the boat and on to the water to trust Jesus and go to him. God’s plan for us is always greater than the plans we have for ourselves. Are we willing to humble ourselves and trust in God and step out of the comfort and safety of the boat and onto the uncertain and potentially dangerous water?