Category: Advent Season

A World Of Slumber – A Baby’s Cry

A World Of Slumber

Luke 2:16-20

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

The shepherds sought Christ and they found Him. He was lying in a manger, just as the angel had said. Don’t you love how God always stands by His promise. In this day of liars, and deceivers, it gets difficult to discern just what Truth is sometimes but God is Truth and His words have credibility. His plan of redemption for a lost world was lying in a manger that night. A tiny, helpless, wrinkled face baby, yet a King, a Messiah and a Redeemer of God’s people!! Mary didn’t know whether to give Him milk or give Him praise, but she gave Him both. Joseph didn’t know whether to call Him junior or Father, but they called Him Jesus. I’m sure His mom had a lot stories to tell and a lot of things to ponder in her heart to recall with cherished memories over the years to come. The joy of His birth would someday meet the justice and mercy of the cross and mingle with the heart wrenching sorrow of His death. Mary would have to be prepared to face the horrific tragedy of her Son..her Lord and know that somehow it would be o.k. Imagine hearing of His resurrection and victory over death? Any silent doubts in her heart would be quickly banished at such awesome news. Her son, God’s Son had defeated the last and final enemy..that of death, and Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, her son, had been the perfect sacrifice, and was now to be her Savior, because of His shed blood.

Wouldn’t you love to hear the story of the Birth of Christ directly from His mom? What a thrill it would be to hear first hand of the frightening, yet awesome events of God’s plan of Salvation, through this Son who was born to die.

Again I say, isn’t it great to know, in these days there is someone in whom we can trust and depend? In a world of cults, liars, cheats, deceivers and con artists, isn’t it a relief to know there is Someone you can trust. If God said it, you can count on it, unlike the rhetoric of politicians who promise anybody anything they want to hear to get elected. What God says, God does. God’s plan will not be thwarted by the enemy.

He broke through on that silent night to bring Hope and peace to a slumbering world and today He still brings peace into our hearts and minds as He breaks though our stubborn slumber and our selfish passions of offensive noise in our modern world! In the midst of the people, the cars, the sounds, the smog, the heat, and the pressures, there stand these reminders in God’s word of His deep peace as we celebrate His life. Seek Him and find Him today, just as the shepherds did. Let Him embrace you and forgive you and give you peace. That’s why He came! That’s what He does!

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His Beautiful Weaving ~ His Plan Of Action

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Luke 2:1, 4, 5

” In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”

Look with me at Matthew 1: 20, when the angel appeared to Joseph to enlighten him of the events that were about to take place, and he began by reminding him of his lineage?

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save his people from their sins.”

Joseph knew who he was, but he needed to know that his lineage was necessary to fulfill God’s plan. Joseph’s role in Christ’s birth was huge, even though he had no part in the conception. Doesn’t God think of everything? Because of who Joseph was he had to trek to Bethlehem to register and he had to go with Mary who was carrying the Christ child. Doesn’t God think of everything? He crosses all the ‘T’s and dots all the ‘i’s” to perfect His perfect and unique plan of action.

Have you ever had a very complex event happen in your life, and yet the smoothness with which it came about and fell into place amazed you? I have, and it’s mind boggling how every, little, intricate detail plays an important role in the big picture, yet my careful planning wasn’t the cause of the happy outcome. Oh,… I did this and that and tried to make it work, but it wasn’t me, and I know that for a fact. I only did what I could and felt led to do. How fortunate we are to have a Master designer and a divine engineer backing us covering our back and fixing the messes that we get ourselves into. Deep within and below the surface of our life, God’s will happens if we let it. He works with brilliance and skill and in His omnipresent, and omnipotent nature, He weaves intelligent design together with supernatural power to work it out. He works through people and leaders, some of whom we may least expect, and in their ignorance and ours and in spite of ourselves, He speaks the word and His work gets accomplished.

Christ’s conception, birth, life and death was fine tuned from the beginning of time, through the Garden of Eden right, on to the manger and the Garden of Gethsemane, to the cross and beyond. What magnificent prophecy was fulfilled to make provision for our sin and make a way for us to be healed, forgiven, redeemed and reconciled to the God of all creation and the One who made us. He had a plan and a purpose from the beginning of time and as He weaved His patterns and worked through many, Caesar played a leading role in Christ’s prophetic birth taking place in the promised place, at the promised time!

In just the same way, God still works today in your life and in those of your circle of influence. He still works in our nations, in our countries and in our governments to bring His prophetic words to fulfillment. We have no need to fear, for as He has been faithful in the past, making a way for our salvation, He will be faithful in the future. Give Him your complexities, your fears, your confusion, your misunderstandings, and your heartaches. Give Him that issue that’s not making any sense, take your hands off, let Him do His work and do only as He asks. Then watch the Master craftsman weave His refined gold into your problem!

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Magnificat

Magnificat

” And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.”

Luke 1:46-47, 49

There is nothing any more precious or more awe-inspiring, than the birth of a new baby. Just ask the mother who has intentionally planned, nurtured and carried her little one safely inside for nine months and has just given birth. What a brilliant God and designer creator we have to have called and orchestrated this most astounding miracle into action for His pleasure and ours. It’s mind-boggling isn’t it? The grace miracles that He extends to us even through His designer, new-born creations! All different, all unique, yet all human, all frail, and all dependent on others. It was in this same humble way God Himself, chose to enter into the world and walk among us for a time. It was His way of becoming human, yet divine so that His plan of salvation could be attained and a lost world could be rescued from the bondage of sin. Mary gave birth to her baby, her Lord and Savior; the One who was born to die in order to bring life. This baby that she carried and birthed would erase the stain of her sin, pay her ransom and bring salvation to her people and to a lost world. This little One that she would deliver would ultimately redeem her.

To be “with child” is a grace moment, but to be “with child” with the Messiah, must have been a grace moment beyond all grace moments. Can we even imagine something so awe-inspiring yet daunting at the same time? No wonder Elizabeth’s words verses 44. 45, inspired a song in Mary’s heart. Her song of joy is the first of three songs of praise in the birth narrative, called the Magnificat; (magnifies) from the first word in the Latin translation! The coming of God’s kingdom would bring salvation to a rejected and outcast people. No wonder Mary sang in praise to Her God, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God in my Savior.”.

When Christ cleanses us and forgives and frees us from the death penalty that we so deserve, it’s a grace moment beyond all grace moments! If we know Him, we know the forgiveness and grace that abolishes the stain of sin and the joy and peace that accompanies new life in Christ! We are blessed beyond all blessing and we can say as Mary, ‘For the Mighty One has done great things for me–holy is His name.”

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Deliver Christ To The World

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Luke 1:30-33
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.”.

Has God ever asked you to do something that in your simple, finite mind, seemed beyond your limitations? Have you felt the fear of insecurity in the face of God’s expectations? I certainly have. Many times, rather than carry out the plan, I’d rather not. Sometimes it seems easier to stay in my comfort zone and not rock the boat too much. Have you been there? Imagine Mary, when the angel appeared with such mind blowing news of God’s plan for her life? She was to carry the King of all the earth, the Redeemer of her people, The Redeemer of the world, The Prince of Peace, The Savior of mankind and the mediator between God and man, She was to deliver the One that would deliver her from her sin! Wow! that would be quite a concept for a young mom to grasp. Especially, an unmarried mom who would face many obstacles because of it. Her reputation was on the line, yet God called her to it and He was faithful to call her through it unscathed! Before this could happen, she had to trust and move forward in obedience into God’s calling! Remember If God calls you to it, He will call you through it. There may be a few storms along the way, a few trials, and a few hardships, but our simple, trust and obedience to God’s call, will get us through victoriously to the other side! A perfect, sinless, Christ came as a babe, and grew deep within Mary’s womb until the time came for Him to come out and be delivered into the world. As believers, who know Christ, He lives within us and If He lives within, He will come out in our actions, our speech and our behavior. We like Mary, have the privilege of delivering Christ into the world by the way we live, through our lifestyles, our display of unconditional love, our forgiving spirit, and by trusting Him and following in obedience to His call. Let’s be challenged today to deliver Christ into our worlds and circles of influence by being obedient to His will, however difficult it may seem! His faithfulness is awesome and His victory is sure!

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