This time of year many of us read what we call The Christmas Story to our children or grandchildren from Luke 2. Perhaps it’s part of Christmas morning as a reminder of what the day is all about – lest its importance get lost in all the ribbon and tissue paper. It’s a remarkable story in so many ways. The Messiah is finally coming. The long-awaited Holy One, predicted and anticipated for centuries. God in the flesh, coming to “dwell among us” (John 1:14), Jesus who will walk among the people, minister to them, spend actual one-on-one time, touch the untouchable, love the unlovable, even raise the dead. Instead of being born a king, raised in a palace, riding in on a horse with great fanfare – as humans would expect – He enters our realm humbly, in a smelly stable to parents of little means. Unknowns. A couple of people working to make a living, two people planning to be married.
This young girl – a teenager, it is thought – is the one God chose to carry His Son to the moment of birth. She, a virgin. Betrothed. We tend to focus on the blessing. Wow! She got to be the Mother of the Lord. Who wouldn’t want that opportunity? But, we miss the potential cost to her. Rejection. Scandal. Broken engagement. Possible stoning. From a societal standpoint, her life was on the line. How would you have responded under such conditions? Granted, she was a bit confused at first, asking how this could possibly be? (We always look at things from our own limited, human perspective…). But, then, without hesitation, she agrees to do whatever God asks.
Are you and I this way when God taps us on the shoulder and asks us to do something? Do we hesitate and think of all the negatives: how much trouble it will be, the potential issues it might bring up, the inconvenience of it all, what others might think, etc, etc, etc…Or, do we say without hesitation, “Ok, God. I’m in; You know best so I trust you to equip me, to enable me and to see me through as you use me for your purposes – even if I don’t understand it all” (or…at all)?
Will you be a Jonah who initially ran the other way as fast as he could go, or a Mary who opened herself up to whatever God had in mind? Jonah got swallowed up by a whale before he’d cooperate. Through Mary God gave us a Savior. In her willingness, she is not to be revered, but rather, emulated.
“Be it done to me according to Your Word.” (Luke 1:38)
Then, Jesus Himself said,”Thy will be done.” Can you say the same?
So very good and perfect for this week of anticipating Christmas. Full of truth and practical lessons. Thank you Teri!
Yes, emulated!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, Jesus, Thank You Father
Thank you Teri, what a wonderful reminder of our own nature and God’s will for our lives. Particularly needed in this time of COVID.
Isaiah 55:8 His way is best.
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May we be convicted as we enter a new year of hope and promise, and may all we do honor and glorify our God. Thanks, Teri.
Ooh … convicting! Am I inconvenienced? Thank you, Teri for challenging me again.
Amen! Thank you for the reminder! Love you and love reading your words – and God’s words. Keep’em coming please! Merry Christmas!
Reading your post made me think of something I have had on my mirror since I came into leadership in CBS from John 17:24, “Whoever God calls, he equips”. I pray that God will equip
me in 2021 to say “Thy will be done” and love Him in the most meaningful way.
Please Jesus, let my response be “Thy will be done”.
Thank you Teri
Nancy