November 26, 2010 A Savior

A Savior

Day 11: Luke 1:31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

MARY is processing a good deal of information. An angel from God comes to her. She’s been addressed as “highly favored”. She is uncertain. She’s terrified. Her mind is going in circles. And then she gets more of the message. What she hears is the answer to what every Hebrew female likely had wondered, “Will it be me? Will I be the one to give birth to our Savior?”
That’s what “Jesus” means—Savior. Gabriel, the angel, just told Mary she will give birth to the Savior. Think of this. I’m in awe. I’ll bet Mary was, too.
What would you do? I think about what it’s like when we receive really good news about something, especially if it’s the answer to a long-held question or a release from worry or concern. There’s “warmth” of release, a good feeling inside, and the glow of God’s hand upon you. And likely you say, “Thank you, Father.”
Mary is processing the information. She needs to know more about the task God has given her. But one thing she does know, God has indeed come to express his favor on her. She is truly “highly favored”. And there is the beginning of release from fear to know the comfort that God’s hand is gently resting on her. God has indeed given to her something very special.
There is a pleasure in knowing God’s love is truly guiding your life. Mary worships God. She knows about him. And now she is coming into a very, very close relationship with him. She will need God’s comforting hands many times in the future—the accusations from Joseph and family, the trip to Bethlehem, the flight to Egypt, the threats against her son as he debates the Pharisees, the cross.


Pause and Consider: God’s comfort comes in all the right places.


Amazing Love
Read 1 Timothy 1-3

1 Timothy 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: (God) appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

“MYSTERY” means difficult to understand, vague. What is the mystery Paul describes? There is a truly wonderful mystery defined by this: God appeared in a body.
I was made aware of this mysterious reality in a new way when I read these words from John Calvin, “How wide is the difference between God and man! And yet in Christ we behold the infinite glory of God united to our polluted flesh in such a manner that they become one.”
Another way to say this is, “Why would God, the holy one, whose glory is too frightful to behold come to earth to be a man surrounded by sin?”
We often ask of God, “Why?” when things don’t go our way. But do we ask him, “Why would you come to save me? Why would you send Jesus to earth to die? Why would you want to become one with me?”
Maybe we know the answer is: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“Amazing love how can it be, that you my King would die for me?” (Chris Tomlin—”I’m Forgiven”)


Pause and Consider: God loves you.