| ‘A virgin birth? ’ Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. REFLECTIONS: Hum... interesting... A virgin birth? You gotta be kidding. Then again, ’ For what is impossible with man nothing shall be impossible with God.’ But isn’t that like us, we usually tend to doubt the impossible and infallible God. We doubt his faithful providence. Yet we continue to place our trust in fallible man and our feeble possessions. Now notice that a virgin birth, Oh what a miracle. Wonder why we don’t see the miracles? Could it be our life style? Our behavior? Our moral principles or lack of them? Mary saw a miracle, ah but then again she was a virgin, she never knew a man. hum.... Wow that’s a word very unfamiliar today A VIRGIN not many of them around these days. Saids something about our society. ( now don’t get mad my reader and decide to leave just yet, there’s hope and forgiveness for you and for me in this story) Lets read on, Did anybody notice that the Angel was sent to; of all cities the city of NAZARETH? Why nobody cared about Nazareth, nobody special lived in that run down ghetto of a town. Or so people thought. Why who would want to go to Nazareth? “Can anything good come out of Nazareth “ said one bible character. Well Jesus noticed something very rare and very special there. But then again Jesus is like that he takes note when other’s don’t. Where other’s don’t. He cares! What am I saying here? Hey if you feel like ur stuck in some low rent, rat and cockroach infested ghetto. Feel like you live in the dump of despair, like nobody cares or notices your situation. Feel like nobody knows about you or your town, your home, your marriage, your job situation. Feel like what good can come out of you? Think again! The angle said “ fear not for thou has found favor with God” Hum... Maybe if we listen hard enough we can still him as he whispers to us the same. “ Fear not for thou has found favor with God” Ever wondered now how do I find favor with God? Well for one realize he loves you so much even when your out of favor with him. But if you want his favor it’s not that difficult. Just begin to delight yourself in him. In his word, in his presence, worship instead of complain. Praise instead of pout. obey rather than rebel. Be kind instead of rude, forgive rather than grudge. Ah you say I’m making it hard now? someone said “ I can do all things thru Christ whom strengthens me “ So you see we have no excuse. You can be more like him... Just look at Joseph wow what a character. what a man, what fidelity, what compassion, what love, what insight, what selflessness. After all he could have had poor Mary divorced and stoned and made an example. But instead he had pity. Oh how I imagine many of you woman long for a man like that. Long for that kind of devoted love, long for that kind of understanding. Well let me encourage you there are more Josephs out there. You just have to look in the right place, try harder, look to God to fulfill your needs and not some frail messed up excuse of a man. Who thinks with what’s in his pants and not WITH what’s in his heart. No not all men are like that! If you let go and let God lead you, you will find what God has for you, not what some man wants from you. Lastly lets look at this baby Jesus. Jesus means Jehovah saves . And that he does! Just think he could have chosen to be born in the best, most comfortable of places. But he chose instead a lowly fly infested, urine smelling manger, where there should have been angels and heads of state to acclaim his birth. There was only a donkey, a few cows, some lowly sheep and a scurry of mice. Oh and lets not forget those dirty shepherds they were there to. He put on instead of royalty, rags, he laid aside his right to deity and authority just to cover himself in decrepit humanity and frailty. Born in, instead of a palace of prison. He left the glory and honor of heaven’s occupants for the gutter and humiliation of earth‘s occupants. So here Is where Jesus steps into the warm but chaotic and turbulent lake of humanity. Where the storms of troubles and pain would rage against him. Where rejection and ridicule would ride him. Where his constant companions would be hunger, humility, loneliness, and abandonment. And to think he did it all for you and for me, and if he had to do it all over again he would.... Cuz you see he cares that much.. “for thou has found favor with God” PRAYER: Dear father, Wow it’s amazing! A virgin birth what a miracle! But then again, there are miracles every day all around me. And somehow I fail to not only notice them, but appreciate them. God forgive me. Help me. May I to find favor with you, May I to be sent an angle from heaven. Oh but I now realize that many are the times you send me angels and I don’t even recognize them or treat them right. Forgive me father, May I never again doubt your promises or abilities. Give me the spirit of JOSEPH because truthfully I’m ashamed to say many are the times when I as a man. Have acted a fool, selfish, sensual, self seeking, pleasure seeking at the cost of the opposite sex. God forgive me! And please help the people who I’ve hurt forgive me. Forgive them, be easy on them.. Continue to change me, mold me, guide me. And may I one day be found faithful to the companion you bless me with. Appreciating the gift you’ve given me. May I honor and respect, cherish and protect that gift. Blessed be your name my Lord and savior. Amen...BYE DADDY |