FOR OUR COMFORT AND JOY

 

DECEMBER 12, 2023

Luke 1:36-38

"And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

 

I find it comforting to see how God puts us together with others in hard times. Thinks about it. Here is Mary, about to face the trial of her life, young, unmarried, and pregnant.  She has a fiancé to tell, parents to deal with, a village to face. What to do? What to do first? God knows.

And so God has Gabriel tell her about Elizabeth her relative, who has also been blessed with a miracle pregnancy and could really use some help right about now! What a great idea, to go and visit her, right?

God is kind. He sees Mary's needs before she sees them herself, and He provides for them, through Elizabeth.

Sometimes just the fact that someone is "there" for you is the best gift of all, beyond anything they can do for you. Maybe that's why God Himself came into our world as a human baby, as Jesus, our Savior. Whatever God might have done from heaven on high, and it would have been amazing no doubt. God did something considerably greater for us when He came close to us in that manger, on the roads of Galilee, on that cross at Jerusalem, greeting His followers, alive again. Remember this: As Jesus suffered and died and rose from the tomb, it was for you and me, and all people. The message we need to remember.  God kept us close to Him all the way!!

God, we thank you, for pulling us close to You. Amen.