Category: Holiday

 

God provided wealth, well in advance of their need.

 

 

On the night Jesus was born, when His star settled over His humble birthplace, God brought His birth to the attention of men who lived very, very far away. 

That night, they began a long two-year journey to worship the Christchild.

Along with their joyous worship, the wise men also brought costly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  While these were representative of the life, death and ministry of Christ, they were also a financial blessing from God.

As soon as the wise men left, Joseph, Mary and Jesus began their journey into Egypt, where they lived until the death of Herod.  That journey, as well as their housing, provisions, clothing, and animals for the next several years would have, no doubt, been financed by those wonderful gifts from the wise men.

How good is our God?!!  I may be facing a need 2 years from now for which He is right now making provision.  Even more poignant is the thought that I may have a need today for which He provided 2 years ago, or perhaps even further back than that!

Our God sees the end from the beginning.  Time is laid out before Him like a scroll and He sees all of our lives, intertwined and separate, our birth to our death, in one sweeping glance.

We can trust Him to meet every need.  No matter how quickly our crisis arrives, it does not catch the Eternal One by surprise!

Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

 

God provided other women to assure Mary of God's plan.

 

Women thrive on community much more than men do.  Relationships are very important to us.  And our God knows that, because He is the one Who made us that way.

So, in His kindness, He sent not one woman to provide comfort to Mary's heart, but two.

The first was her cousin, Elizabeth.

 

Luke 1:42-45 "And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

 

What sweet words of assurance to the fragile, wondering, fearful heart of Mary. 

The second woman to give encouragment to Mary was Anna.

 

Luke 2:38 "And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and
spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."

 

Anna's words confirmed again all that the angels had said to Joseph and Mary.

No matter how much faith we have in God's promises to us, it is always a blessing to have a word of encouragment from another woman who understands.

God is faithful to meet the the spiritual and physical needs we have, but He is also so kind to meet the emotional needs of our heart, as well.

 

 

God provided confirmation to the Holy Spirit's promise.

 

Joseph and Mary had at least 9 months to get used to the idea of her giving birth to the Christchild.

Yet as those months slowly passed for them, I'm sure they must have wondered within themselves and probably aloud to each other just how it would all be brought to pass.

Afterward, as the emotions of childbirth flooded Mary, she pondered everything in her heart, kept her own counsel; but she must have had a moment or two of wondering if she had remembered, correctly, everything the angel said to her, if her son would truly be great and reign over Israel. 

Just a short time later, as they went into the temple to offer up a sacrifice for the birth of their son, God sent Simeon to confirm all that the angel had told Mary and Joseph.   Once again, they marvelled at the things told them.

How merciful God is to send us reassurance when we most need it.

Has the Lord given you a promise?  Has He whispered some truth into your ear as you read His Word and meditated on His Scriptures.

If so, don't doubt His Word.  If He promised it, He will perform it.

And, I have no doubt that He will give further assurances and confirmations of His promise to you, just as He did to Joseph and Mary.

 

II Corinthians 1:20 "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."

 

God provided messengers to share the story of His Son.

 

 

A little over two thousand years ago, those messengers were angels.

However, as soon as the message was passed to the shepherds, they became the carriers of the glorious good news of Christ's birth.

 

Luke 2:17-18 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 

Since that first dramatic delivery, the message of Christ has been entrusted to us.  We are now the messengers for His wonderful story that goes so much farther than the dramatic, yet simple scene that night long ago in Bethlehem.

Are we faithful carriers of the story of His death and resurrection, as well as His birth?

He has entrusted His story of salvation to us.   

How will we give out His glorious message of atonement today?

 

God provided a star, a sign and a song to show the way to His Son.

 

God's plan was no secret. 

He set a star in the heavens to show the way.

He sent an angel to announce it.

He told the shepherds where the Baby would be found and what He would be wrapped in.

Then He orchestrated a song of praise by an angelic host.

God wants you to know His Son!  It is His greatest desire.

As we celebrate the birth of the Christchild, I pray that YOU know the CHRIST!

 

 

God provided words of peace when fear threatened to overcome the shepherds.

"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not…'"

 

Life is scary.  The best of days can bring surprising angelic announcements, and the worst of days can bring shocking, horrific revelations.

We can only have peace when we know the Prince of Peace.  He promises His gift to us.

 

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

May God's peace comfort you today.

 

 

God provided angelic announcers when the world took no notice.

 

James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

In your service for the Lord, do not concern yourself with being seen and noticed by man.  Most of the time, people do not notice or understand the sacrifice we make to serve the Lord.  They cannot see our heart or know our motives.

We will, in most cases, not receive adulation for our service to the Lord.

But God knows.

He sees our sacrifice.  He treasures our work.

When you feel that no one notices, remember the Heavenly Host that is looking down on us; and rejoice with them that the work of God is being accomplished here on earth.