The Fruit of Thy Womb

 Please read Luke 1:26-42 which I posted yesterday under the title, The Christmas Story

  Mary was indeed blessed among women. Chosen to carry the Christ Child and to rear and nurture Him, she was both honored and given a serious obligation. She reverently took on the task as she was a godly woman. Her troubled state and her fear were outweighed by her responsibility to God.

  The angel 's greeting to her surprised her and made her wonder. Which one of us, when called upon God to achieve something in His name, would not wonder, "Who, me?" Jeremiah worried that he was too young to speak for the Lord and Moses worried that his speech was not good enough. The angel Gabriel assured Mary that there was no need for fear. He was sent with a message from God to tell her that she had found favor with Him. She was chosen among all women to bear His Son. The plan of salvation would soon be implemented and she was a vehicle to be used by God Most High. When Gabriel finished his message, her reply was simple: "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." The angel left and Mary hurried to see her cousin Elizabeth who was also experiencing a miracle birth!    "For with God, nothing shall be impossible." (vs. 37)

  Three things I see in this part of the Christmas story are:

1. Miracles are common!

2. God uses the faithful.

3. The importance of encouragement.

  Let's first look at Miracles. One dictionary definition states that a miracle is "an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs"* Mary definitely experienced a string of extraordinary events beginning with an angelic visitation, a message and messenger directly sent from God, a supernatural pregnancy and also indirectly through her cousin who, "filled with the Holy Ghost", recognized the enormity of Mary's blessing; "blessed is the fruit of thy womb."(Luke 1:42c)

  The Christian who is filled with the Spirit of God experiences many extraordinary events which he recognizes are of God. When we walk with the Lord, as Mary did, and are filled with the Holy Spirit, as was Elizabeth, our very lives become extraordinary. We are open to a visitation by an angel or the Holy Spirit. Anything can happen! Is there anything ordinary about God? There is nothing ordinary about our walk with Him. He takes ordinary people and shows them the divine when they are humble before Him. He can not even use us if we are not humbled. He used a young girl who knew nothing of the world beyond her little corner. She was inexperienced in things of the world but she was used by God to change the world. He had a plan to send "his only begotten son"(John 3:16b) "that the world through him might be saved."(John 3:17b)

   How can God use each one of us? He especially uses the faithful. When we walk in faith we expect miracles and understand that we need to be used by Him as part of our Christian walk. We need to be aware of opportunities in which we can serve Him and His Kingdom. We are to be active among the body of believers as well as witnesses to the unsaved. We need to lift each other up and encourage each other along in our Christian walk. This we do out of love for God and love for each other.

  We recognize that God uses the humble and so we recognize the need to repeat such scriptures as Phillipians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me", into the ears of our fellow laborers in Christ. Many of us are fearful. We're usually afraid that we won't measure up to His expectations. But, "Fear not"! God knows who we are before he commissions us!

  Gabriel told Mary, "Fear not" and she ran to her cousin to share her joy and they rejoiced together. It's been said that there are no "Lone Ranger" Christians. We are encouraged to meet together as we see in Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." But also on an individual level we see in Luke 1 how two women who are related to each other have even stronger bonds than their family ties, as they are bonded in their joy in the Lord. Our greatest spiritual ties will often be found with our Christian brothers and sisters and not our natural families.

  As we go about our daily business, let's each be aware of the presence of God, His call on our lives and the miracles with which He reveals himself to us. As we witness of these miracles, lets encourage each other in love. While a life filled with miracles is common to a Christian, it is also a life in which there is much to overcome. In fact, there will be much tribulation in the life of a Christian. Let's lift each other up in prayer with words of encouragement and grace. Mary had company in her pregnancy with her cousin Elizabeth. They shared their good news. Mary also had company in her grief; she was joined by other godly women at the foot of the cross on which her firstborn Son, our Savior Jesus, was crucified.

*Merriam-Websters Online Dictionary

The Christmas Story

  As we look forward to Christmas, this Advent season, we will be examining some of the verses that tell us of the birth of our Savior.  Over the next few weeks, I hope that we will grow in our joy and appreciation of the Christmas story as we look into it more deeply. For now, read and enjoy the following scriptures from the King James Version of God's Holy Word.

The prophet Isaiah promises a hope for the future which will be fulfilled in Jesus. Part of the prophecy of the coming Messiah that Isaiah gives, is as follows: 

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 Luke 1:26-56

Mary submits to God's will after the angel Gabriel tells her of God's plans for her and for the world... Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27) to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28) And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29)And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. 31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33) and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36) And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37) For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38) And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 

39) And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; 40) and entered into the house of Zechariah, and saluted Elisabeth. 41) And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42) and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43) And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  44) For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45) And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 

 Mary is exultant...

 46) And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47) and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.48) For he hath regarded the low estate of his hand maiden:
        for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49) For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
        and holy is his name. '

50) And his mercy is on them that fear him
        from generation to generation. 

51) He hath showed strength with his arm;
        he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52) He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
        and exalted them of low degree.

53) He hath filled the hungry with good things;
        and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54) He hath holpen his servant Israel,
        in remembrance of his mercy;

55) as he spake to our fathers,
        to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

56) And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

We are now picking up the story of Joseph, Mary and Joseph in Luke ch. 2:1-20...  

1) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2) (And this taxing was first made when Cyre'ni-us was governor of Syria.) 3) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) 5) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

The witness of the shepherds...

8)And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9) And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. 10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  14)Glory to God in the highest,
        and on earth peace,
         good will toward men. 

15) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16) And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17) And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18) And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19) But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

More to come...

Love, Forgiveness and Repentance

Pray with me and others who treasure the heritage we have in our children. Jesus said, "Suffer (let) little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:16b,c KJV)

Jesus was concerned with the innocent, but He also preached a Gospel of repentance and forgiveness as we see below.

"Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him." (Luke 17:1-4 KJV)

When we repent of sin, God forgives us. If you have had an abortion, Jesus is waiting to take you into his arms in forgiveness and love.