What do you do to keep Christ in YOUR Christmas? It is so easy to get caught up in all the trappings and responsibilities (some self-imposed) of the season, so to keep Christ in my own personal Christmas, I ponder one aspect of the Christmas account in scripture each year.
In the past I have focused on the miracle and implications of the incarnation, the different Bible characters, how God chose to speak to men throughout that time, the supernatural events that involved nature, and others. This year, I chose Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Although I identify most with the Apostle Peter before Pentecost on a personal level, (sincere but lacking wisdom, impulsive, and generally blundering my way through life), the person I aspire to be like is Mary.
Out of all the women God could have chosen to not only birth the Saviour, but raise Him, God chose Mary. I want to be the kind of woman that God could choose for such an important assignment, don't you?
In the next couple of blogs, I want to take a look at the characteristics that made Mary the kind of woman that God could choose to use!
Mary KNEW and LOVED God.
She attended the synagogue and was educated in the scriptures as much as all the women of her day were. She had heard the prophesies concerning the coming Messiah. She knew that He would be born of a virgin. I'm sure she never imagined that she would be that virgin, yet still, she believed God's Word would come to pass and she was waiting for it. From the words she spoke both to the angel and in a moment of praise, we can see that Mary was a God worshipper. He was no stranger to her.
By the time she reached Elizabeth's house, we see that she had fully comprehended and embraced being God's choice to mother the promised Messiah. In a spontaneous moment, her praise of God burst forth from her spirit as she declared;
Luke 1:46b
“My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant;
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is to generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
51 He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
And sent the rich away empty-handed.
54 He has given help to His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 Just as He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”
In order to be used of God, I must know Him! I must love His voice and be responsive to His leadings. I must believe that God is still working in the world and using women to bring about the fulfillment of His plan for this sick and dying world. I must be like Mary.
Oh that God would fine tune my character to the point that He could use me for such a grave and glorious assignment. Oh that He would cause His revelation to be so real in my heart that praise would burst forth from my mouth everytime I meditate on it. Oh, to be used as Mary was for whatever purpose God has planned for my life.
In the past I have focused on the miracle and implications of the incarnation, the different Bible characters, how God chose to speak to men throughout that time, the supernatural events that involved nature, and others. This year, I chose Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Although I identify most with the Apostle Peter before Pentecost on a personal level, (sincere but lacking wisdom, impulsive, and generally blundering my way through life), the person I aspire to be like is Mary.
Out of all the women God could have chosen to not only birth the Saviour, but raise Him, God chose Mary. I want to be the kind of woman that God could choose for such an important assignment, don't you?
In the next couple of blogs, I want to take a look at the characteristics that made Mary the kind of woman that God could choose to use!
Mary KNEW and LOVED God.
She attended the synagogue and was educated in the scriptures as much as all the women of her day were. She had heard the prophesies concerning the coming Messiah. She knew that He would be born of a virgin. I'm sure she never imagined that she would be that virgin, yet still, she believed God's Word would come to pass and she was waiting for it. From the words she spoke both to the angel and in a moment of praise, we can see that Mary was a God worshipper. He was no stranger to her.
By the time she reached Elizabeth's house, we see that she had fully comprehended and embraced being God's choice to mother the promised Messiah. In a spontaneous moment, her praise of God burst forth from her spirit as she declared;
Luke 1:46b
“My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant;
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is to generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
51 He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
And sent the rich away empty-handed.
54 He has given help to His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 Just as He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”
In order to be used of God, I must know Him! I must love His voice and be responsive to His leadings. I must believe that God is still working in the world and using women to bring about the fulfillment of His plan for this sick and dying world. I must be like Mary.
Oh that God would fine tune my character to the point that He could use me for such a grave and glorious assignment. Oh that He would cause His revelation to be so real in my heart that praise would burst forth from my mouth everytime I meditate on it. Oh, to be used as Mary was for whatever purpose God has planned for my life.
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