November 21, 2012
“God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name was Mary. … Gabriel greeted her:”Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty. Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.” … Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.” Luke 1:28-33 The Message
Everything about God’s saving plan .. his redeeming love .. and his promise looks unthinkable and unacceptable. Mary cannot even imagine Yahweh .. God Almighty .. proposing to birth the Savior out of the fear and faith of her life. Who could? The timing looks off. The scandal of her pregnancy: God announcing His Plan .. His Promise .. and His Paternity over the life she will carry. We form it into beautiful images of faith and purity and celebrate Israel’s Royal Scandal every year. But what if this Scandal is your life: God announcing that He wants to do something inside of you so great that all you can do is say “I am yours .. ready to serve. Let it be in me just as you say.” She wasn’t trained for this moment. And the truth is you are just like this young woman. There isn’t enough time to plan. There is God’s offer and promise to shape the life of His Son .. Holy .. inside of your life. The same fear Mary experienced at that moment is the same fear you and I experience with every encounter with Jesus: “But how …?”. Every circumstance is different. Every situation unique. Every one of your plans, desires, and dreams are found in the Scandal that God wants to birth in your life. A long time Christ follower once said: “The most immoral thought, the most insane idea is that God does not keep His word” Angel appearances are very rare but God’s saving grace .. restoring grace .. and growing grace is rare for its unbelievable abundance. And it is for today .. for you. It only takes a moment …
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore the child you bring forth will be called Holy, Son of God. … “Yes, I see it all now — I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.” ” Luke 1:35-38 The Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Young .. Old .. and In-between followers of Jesus. (Thanks to Burt Sorensen for this Thanksgiving reminder about the God who keeps His Word!) Thanks be to God!!
