Happy Holidays!
Luke 1: 38
And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.”
Put yourself, for a moment, in Mary’s shoes. She was a young, unwed, though engaged woman when the angel Gabriel appeared to her announcing that she would conceive and bear a son. She questioned Gabriel about how such a thing could come to be since she was still a virgin. He responded, “Nothing will be impossible with God.”
Now, stop right here. What would your next statement be, your thoughts? “Can this be? Have I lost my mind? What will my mother say? What about my friends? Gracious, what will Joseph, my intended say and do?” Think about it. If she consents, then she is about to show up pregnant in her community. What will the village elders think? Fornication is a sin and how else does one get pregnant. Can’t you imagine she would have a lot of questions for Gabriel? I would want to see his angel credentials. Thankfully, Mary was much more faithful and trusting. She said, “Okay, let it be done to me exactly as you have said.”
Do you believe for a moment that she did not understand the implications and ramifications of her decision? Somehow she trusted God above the social repercussions. She must have trusted God to keep her safe. She must have trusted Gabriel’s words when he said that nothing would be impossible with God. She took an enormous risk with her engagement and even with her life.
The point of this story is not that we should worship Mary for her faith. The point is that we ought to learn that trust in God is not misplaced. Through Mary’s act of trust and faith, we may learn how to trust God ourselves. What if we truly believed that with God nothing is impossible.
What is God asking you to do? Are you to preach on the other side of the globe? Or perhaps God just wants you to speak to your neighbor. Honestly, it takes as much trust and faith for one as for the other. This Christmas season I ask you to ponder what you might do if you really believed that nothing is impossible with God. Maybe you would be healed, start a new project, write a book, sing a song . . .. Maybe you can finally take that step that God has been speaking to you for years. Perhaps we can all trust Him just a bit more. Mary’s faith changed the world. Maybe ours can do the same.
Luke 2: 4 – 5
And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
Mary, the mother of Jesus; venerated, adored and even prayed to, alas was an unwed, pregnant woman.
The Christmas story of Jesus’ birth is such a heartwarming tale. I love to read it every year and try to imagine the glory of the Lord shining over the shepherds. What was it like to see the angelic and heavenly host singing praises to God. Wow! Just Wow! It is epic and I want to be translated back to that lonely field and witness the glory of the Lord. As I read, again, the glorious account of the arrival of Messiah, I am struck by the reality Mary, Joseph and others had to live in order to bring this miracle into the earth. I am humbled and whisper softly, “Thank you Father for these obedient servants.” I do not pray to Mary, but I sure am grateful and praise the Father that she hearkened to His voice and His will.
Consider for a moment, people all over this globe have heard the story of the Virgin Mary. She has been depicted in art probably more than any other person in history save Jesus himself. The truth is, though, she was an unwed mother. Now how does that truth play in your neighborhood? What do you think the neighbors said over 2000 years ago? Do you think everyone rushed to her side when her pregnancy was revealed? How celebrated do you think she was then? Think of all of her neighbors. I bet she had one of those judgmental, gossipy old crones living just down the street from her family’s home. Can you for a moment imagine what her parents endured? And bless Joseph, he hung in there with her but at first he wanted to put her quietly away. How familiar does that sound?
There is not going to be another virgin birth but what these matriarchal heroes endured for the glory of the coming king, gives me pause. What would I have said about Mary if I lived down the street from her when her pregnancy was exposed? As much as I do not wish to admit it, I can tell you that I would have judged her. I would probably have thought less kindly towards her and Joseph. I certainly would have assumed I knew how they came to be in that unfortunate circumstance.
I am condemned; not they. They obeyed God at great personal cost. The result of their obedience and shame is my own salvation. I must consider my judgmental attitudes and repent. Who is it today that I judge? Are they not also the beloved of God? Is God’s heart grieved when I judge and criticize His child? “Oh Lord, my God, save me from myself! Help me, help us all to have tender hearts towards all your children, especially, Father, those who appear far from you for we can never know their hearts or circumstances but we do know that you love them as much as you love precious Jesus. No matter how damaged and broken we are, regardless of how far we have wandered from the path, your heart is for us. Help us all to remember the pregnant, unmarried mother of the savior of the world when next we think harsh, judgmental words about one of your own.”
No minister and no ministry is perfect; I least of all. Nonetheless, I wish to echo Jesus’ beckoning statement, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Do you know someone who feels shunned or branded as an outcast? Is there someone in your life who feels they have been let down by the church? Jesus took all judgment onto himself so that the grace of God could come on us. Let those people know that God loves them and so do we. In the famous words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us everyone.” And Scrooge, that means you too.
Matthew 2: 10
And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
The second chapter of Luke also tells the Christmas story. In the tenth verse the angel said, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people.” Hallelujah! The good news of Jesus’ birth is a message of great joy for all people.
Sometimes we think and act like our fellowship with the Lord is a private club only for those with special membership. We begin to divide the world into we, the saved, and they, the unsaved. There is something very interesting revealed in today’s passage, though. The first worshipers of Jesus were heathen. However, they received the good news of Jesus and rejoiced exceedingly.
The Magi were from the east, perhaps Babylon. They were star worshipers, probably worshiping the sun and moon. However, when they saw the Christmas star, they abandoned their home land and journeyed to Jerusalem. There they found the baby Jesus. Matthew 2: 11 says that when they saw the child, “they fell down and worshiped Him.” As we tell the Christmas story we should remember that Jesus belongs to people from every land. His birth was for all people. Every nation will bow down to him and we can also expect them to receive this good news with great joy. He is not just our savior; he is the savior of the world.
Jesus went to his own people but the Jews didn’t receive him. Fortunately for most of us, we gentiles were invited to the wedding feast. We need to keep that in mind as we encounter people who are not yet Christians and as we consider the blessing of Jesus’ coming this Christmas. He came to and for all people. We need not divide ourselves into the “us” and “them” category because it was “they” who traveled many miles, perhaps over 100 in order to worship the newly born King of the Jews when the Jews didn’t go across town to take him expensive gifts. The heathen magi received the new king with great joy and bestowed honor on him.
So remember, the first worshipers of Jesus were Gentiles. There are many people who are not Christians right now who will receive the good news with great joy. Jesus’ birth is such good news for all people. There is no separation. We are all the beloved of God. The only difference in us versus them is time. We received our salvation yesterday while they will receive theirs tomorrow. The important thing is for us all to receive this gift of the child king with rejoicing. Let us not lose our joy over what Jesus has done for us. Let us all worship him with great joy.
Read the whole story at Matthew 2: 1- 11
Isaiah 58: 9
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, “Here I am.”
There are no ands, ifs or buts about today’s verse. It is very plain. When you call, God will answer.
Don’t you get the notion from reading this verse that God is standing on GO just waiting for someone to call. The question I have for you is, “Is this an absolute promise from God?” We need to have a definitive answer for that question. For many years I cried out to God wanting more of Him and yet I felt like I was in the middle of a vast desert with no one hearing my calls. Once I learned that He was awaiting me, I have never been back to the desert. When I learned about this verse, I came to expect Him to answer and He always has. If you are not expecting an answer your tuner will always be on the wrong frequency and that is all there is to it. God’s answer is, “Here I am.” He is ready to show you right where He is so that you can always connect with Him. If you ask, “God, where are you,” the answer is, “Here I am.” Now, don’t you consider that good news?
Every single time you call, the Lord answers so my advice is call Him today.
Proverb 1: 7, 22
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. How long, O naïve ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing. And fools hate knowledge.
Proverb 9: 10 reads, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Interesting. So, knowledge and wisdom come from a relationship with the Lord. Further, knowing the “Holy One” brings understanding. We, therefore, have access to wisdom, knowledge and understanding through our relationship with the Holy Trinity. Would you think it fair to say that the closer we are in our relationship with the Father, Son and Spirit, the more easier it will be for us to tap into their knowledge and wisdom? Will it be easier for us to gain understanding? I think that is a reasonable conclusion.
Jesus’ brother, James wrote an encouraging passage in his letter. It reads, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1: 5). James points out that God is the source of wisdom. That is not difficult to believe. He also reveals us, though, that God gives us His wisdom and that He does so freely.
Today’s verse also points out that fools hate knowledge. Well, it is no surprise that anyone who hates knowledge is deemed a fool by God but what is perplexing is why anyone would hate knowledge. Why would anyone revel in scoffing rather than gaining knowledge, wisdom and understanding? The answer seems to be in the word “scoff”. Synonyms for scoffing are: jeering, sneering, ridiculing, and deriding. It seems that some folks would rather sneer at others rather than invest the time and energy in seeking God and His wisdom. Let’s be frank. It takes time and energy to get to know God. It takes effort to open your heart and mind to His guidance. It takes faith to believe what you hear. All of this is so worth the small amount of effort but fools scoff at the idea instead of trusting that God will really meet them in the solitude of quiet time.
The really good news is that God honestly does give out knowledge. He really does dole out wisdom and He really does bestow understanding. The bad news is that these priceless gifts rarely come from the prayer, “God give me wisdom.” As soon as you pray that prayer He will try to lead you into time with Him where He can reveal His fullness to you. The reverence of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The respect, admiration and veneration of the beloved is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom, knowledge and understanding are the by-products of a life lived with God. As we open our hearts to Him and pour our lives into Him, we find all good things. Holding God in high esteem is the path. Time spent with Him yields all.