It Just Amazes Me

Today's reading comes from Wilshire Baptist Church, Dec. 21 reading. The scripture is Luke 1:39-45.

39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

I have to admit, this still seems astonishing to me every time I read it. That the baby in Elizabeth's womb leapt for joy when Mary came into the room. It's just amazes me. Like babies don't know that much about what is happening in the world outside of their mother's bellies. I can see them being sensitive to increased light and loud noise, but to someone coming into the room....someone who is also inside their momma's belly? How many babies would know this? It just amazes me and shows God at work.

John, who is to be the forerunner to Christ, knows Christ before he is even born and is happy about it. Neat isn't it? :)

What part of the Christmas story amazes you?

A Promise Kept

Today's devotion is inspired by Wilshire Baptist Church, there December 13 entry. The Scripture reading is Acts 13, I'm supposed to concentrate on 23-33, but have decided to look at a slightly larger context.

"Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.' 23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'

26"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead, 31and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

"'You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.'

34And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

"'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.'

35Therefore he says also in another psalm,

"'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.'

36For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:
41 "'Look, you scoffers,
be astounded and perish;
for I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'"

Israel, God's people. Paul reminds the people, explaining to them how God cared for his people. Choosing their leadership and making them great. And this led to David leading them. And from David came Jesus, with John the baptist being his immediate fore-runner.

Paul tells his listeners that Jesus is salvation, and that he and the disciples understand this message of salvation and are therefore telling them. Jesus, even though the church leadership didn't understand him, is salvation. Jesus is God's son. Jesus is the one that God is well-pleased with. Jesus is the one that God raised from the dead, whose flesh is incorruptible. Jesus is the promise kept by God. Jesse's son, David's line, Saviour of the world.

Paul shows his listeners the truth of who Jesus is, using the holy scriptures to prove it. I have to admit, I like seeing those examples in Scripture...using scripture to show what we know is true. Isn't that just the way it should be? Rather than using life examples to prove scripture.

He then tells his listeners, beware, lest you be numbered among the scoffers. Look to Christ, be amazed by him. If you scoff at this truth you will perish.

I read that last verse and I sorrow for those who just don't want to believe. Those who've been shown the truth but just can't believe, or won't believe. They will perish. It renews my determination to show forth my faith a bit more to those around me who just don't believe.

Are you Prepared?

Today's Advent devotion is brought to us by Wilshire Baptist Church. Our scripture reading is from Luke 12:35-48.

35 "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

41Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" 42And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Lee Russell says this:

This text puts us on notice that we are to be ready to meet God at any given moment. But in this season of Advent, let us look at it another way. Luke says the servant who is vigilant and taking care of his assigned tasks will be ready for the master whenever he comes and will be rewarded for his effort. He also says a burglar could not enter our homes if we knew he were coming.

I read this passage and what I ask myself is:
Who are you waiting for?
Who are you prepared for?
Whose servant am I? Do I live for myself, or do I live like I have an authority bigger than myself? Who is master?
Do I show myself ready for my master's imminent return?
Christ could return at any moment...am I ready for that?

I have to admit....I am prepared to wait a while for Christ to return. I want so much to see my boy child grow up, to see him experience life and living it for the Lord. I want this so much that sometimes I'd really rather that Christ delay his return just a bit longer. That feels rather selfish of me. BUT I am ready, I am waiting, I think my house is in order for the most part. I try to live like I have a higher authority to answer to ....and not just my hubbie. But that I live for Christ, for GOD. But I can do more, I can be waiting expectantly.