It is almost Christmas time again... just a few short days away...
I am reading a book about the life of Jesus and again noted the conversation between Mary and the angel as found in Luke, chapter one, and I am referring specifically to the conversation as described from verse 31:
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall
call His name Jesus."
Mary then queries from the angel:
"How can this be, since I do not know a man?" verse 34
and the angel answers:
"...the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will
overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy one who is to be born will be
called the Son of God." verse 35.
I have often pondered this conversation... often marvelled at the young teenage girl's response to such a controversial announcement made by the Heavenly messenger... because she, knowing the law and therefore the danger to her person should it become known that she was with child and not married... yet answered:
"Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your
word." verse 38
Agreeable... obedient... submissive... and once there... in that state of total submission and obedience, despite the circumstances, despite the lurking dangers, even the possibility of death... the angel departs to smooth her way by also appearing to Joseph... and the end result of this submission and obedience being the Christ of God becombing flesh and being born as a human being to fulfil step one of God's redemptive plans for human kind.
There is another instance in the Scriptures where similar words are uttered:
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and
you shall witness to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to
the end of the earth." Acts 1:8
This time of course it is our Lord Jesus himself speaking to his disciples...
These words were immediately preceded by His command to not leave Jerusalem but to wait for:
"...the Promise of the Father, "which", He said, "you have heard from Me; for
John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now." " Acts 1: 4,5.
Again, the response is obedience, submission, because we read in verse 12 of the same chapter:
"Then they returned to Jerusalem (after the ascension of Jesus to heaven) from
the Mount of Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. And
when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were
staying: " (My insertion between brackets)
until: "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in
one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. then there
appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy spirit and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:1 4.
The words of Jesus were fulfilled and God's plan for the gospel to be spread across the whole world was set in motion - by obedience and submission to the command by Jesus.
What is God's plan for the earth in the here and now?
What is God's message for the earth here and now?
What is it that God wants you and me to do now?
What is the next step for the redemption of human kind?
Is it not the return of Christ to fetch his bride?
Are we not to preach that the coming of the Lord is at hand?
Is that not what God would have you and me do right now?
Are we obedient and submissive?
Or are we thwarting and delaying the final step of the redemption plan by disobedience and rebellion?
Thank You, Father God, for Your redemptive plan for all mankind. Help us please to submit and to preach the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to the world at large.
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