This week we continue our preparation for Christmas, when, through the birth of Jesus Christ, God declares to us that it is good to be human and that he is on our side. As we journey through the season of Advent, we therefore say, Come, Lord Jesus. In our final week of preparation, as we journey towards Christmas Day, we continue to think about our response to Jesus’ coming.
Read Isaiah 7:10-25. Have you ever done anything courageous? I suppose the most courageous thing I did was to say “yes” to God and give up a career in law in order to enter full time ministry as a Salvation Army officer.
Mary was certainly courageous. As a young, virgin teen, there is no way she could have been prepared for the message the angel had for her: you are the one about which Isaiah prophesied! It must have been beyond her expectations! And in saying “yes” to God she at once moved out of her comfort zone. She showed great integrity and courage!
But that’s what Kingdom people are like! We’re history makers! We’re not content to protect the status quo and our status as “good Christian folk”. We want to change ourselves and our world. It’s not enough to simply love and admire Mary’s courage. We want to grasp it for ourselves.
As we move towards Christmas Day, let’s pledge again to trust our inner experience of God and follow it to Bethlehem and beyond. A wonderful adventure awaits!
THINK IT OVER
Think about the following:
•In what ways do you trust your inner experience of God? Do you ever fear being criticised if you do so?
