Every year about this time, I start thinking about Christmas. Imagine that! Well, actually, it's not just "Christmas" I think about - the presents, the lights, the reindeer antlers that attach to your car windows! No, believe it or not, it's the meaning behind Christmas I try to focus on. I really try hard not to "miss" the real reason for the color green or the use of trees or decorative ornaments. Of course, it's always helpful that my husband preaches about Advent and the happenings before the birth of Christ during the month of December. It does keep my mind on track...thanks Steve!
This past Sunday, Steve was talking about the four hundred year period between the Old Testament and the New Testament. During this "Intertestamental Period," God had not spoken to the people of Israel. He had been silent...at least as far as they could tell. Four hundred years passed. Stop for a minute and try to grasp the magnitude of that...400 years...passed and the people had heard nothing from their God. I wonder if some fell away from the faith. I wonder if some decided that God had given up on them. I wonder if some of them never expected to see God work again.
Then, surprise - surprise, God spoke through the Angel Gabriel to Zechariah, telling him that his child would be the forerunner of the Messiah. That story, in and of itself, is an amazing one to study. It's full of unexpected drama and intrigue. You need to check it out - Luke 1:5-25. But for now, I want to focus on another announcement, maybe not quite so unexpected.
Go a little further in the book of Luke. Verse 26 begins the narration of another announcement: Gabriel's appearance to Mary - a young girl of humble means - telling her she would become the Mother of the Messiah.
Can you imagine the scene? I'm sure it would have been fascinating to be a fly on the wall. Scripture does give us insight into how it happened, as well as Mary's response. If it had been me in Mary's shoes, I would have freaked out, but she didn't. How is that possible? I thought long and hard about this on Sunday night during the middle of church, while Steve was preaching on this section of Luke. Yes, I'm afraid I have to confess - my mind was wandering!
I just couldn't help thinking about the fact that when Gabriel appeared to Mary, Scripture doesn't say she went running and screaming through the house, trying to get away from the glowing figure. If I had been Mary, I would have found a hole in the wall to run through or made one myself! Instead, Scripture says that Mary, "was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was" (Luke 1:29). The New Living Translations says that Mary was "Confused and disturbed," trying to "think what the angel could mean." Scripture doesn't speak of her astonishment at the angel's appearance at all...only of her confusion over the the angel's message.
What would make a 12-13 year old girl NOT petrified to the point of death over seeing and angel, sent from God with a message for her? Could it be that she wasn't surprised to hear from the Lord? Could it be that she had heard through the grapevine that God had spoken to Zechariah, her relative's husband, after these 400 years? Could it be that she was so well-versed in the Words of God - in the Prophets of old - that when she heard God had appeared, she expected Him to do it again? Could it be that hearing from Him again was on the forefront of her mind, causing an anxious anticipation, instead of a wasting away of the soul?
Could it be?
Regardless, a lesson jumped out at me. I started thinking to myself...how would my life change if I EXPECTED God to do something...if I EXPECTED Him to show up in my every-day, run-of-the-mill life. Would my life change? Would things be different in my relationship with Him...with my family...with my friends, enemies, acquaintances?
You bet'cha.
If I really expected God to work...to speak...to do something in my life, I would drag myself out of bed early in the morning to pour out my heart to Him and search His Word for answers. I would beg for His advice, ask for His wisdom for my daily decisions. I would petition Him on behalf of my family...call out in passionate intercession for those who are lost. I would spend my day "looking" behind every corner...anxiously awaiting to see Him. I would be consumed with thoughts of Him...and not of myself. I would EXPECT Him to show up and come through for me and then not be surprised, but joyful, when He did...
...If I EXPECTED Him to do something.
How much we must miss, because we think we're too busy, too tired, too this or that to spend time with Him throughout our day, when how exciting and surprising our lives would be if we would only anxiously await His "workings." Fear would no longer rule our relationship with Him, and our lives and the lives of those around us would be focused and fueled by His sweet surprises lavished on us throughout the day.
Dearest Jesus, help me to EXPECT You to work in me and through me and for me. Remind me today, that You want to speak with me...You want to be a part of my everyday, run-of-the-mill life, so that there will be nothing run-of-the-mill about it! I love You, Father. Thank You for wanting to speak to me and work within me and for me. I EXPECT to hear from You and see Your precious promises this very day. Praise You, Jesus. I praise You.
, and all of the sudden, I've got a glowing white
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