Who First Announced Jesus’ Arrival?
Luke 1:39-45 NIV)
“When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb” Luke 1:41(NIV)
Pastor’s Thoughts
It was Mother Theresa who pointed out that the first person to announce the arrival of the Messiah was an unborn child. She was making the point that the people we value least in society, the unborn, are the very people God elevates.
My next comments will make you cringe, yet I’ve got to say them:
We humans are barbaric. We murder off our young and for the worst of reasons . . . . because they inconvenience us. And each of is part of the system that condones it. We need rescued. We need forgiven. We need Jesus. We are so much more evil than any of us realize even in our most aware moments.
Yet, and this is incredible, each of us is, apart from the sacrament of Christ’s body, the most holy thing/creature that any of us ever encounters in life. Each of us is an image of God, destined, if we allow Jesus to save us, to become a glorious creature, whom others would be tempted to worship, were they to see us as we will be through Christ. There are no ordinary human beings, only immortal ones.
Amazing. Barbaric, yet Glorious. What do you see when you see another person?
I see someone whom God loves, and someone whom I am commanded to love also.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous #2: First, I want to say how much I appreciated Sunday's message!!!!!! Not many would have introduced that part of the Christmas Message~ I love it when we hear that depth of God's Word!!!!!! Keep it coming! It helps feed my hunger.
ReplyDeleteAs to what do I see in another person? I see the challenge to be more like Jesus in loving those who are not like me. I see where I need to forgive and love unconditionally. I see where I fail and realize my short comings. I see how much I need Jesus to love like He loves, and desiring to love others, even my enemies as His Word says, in such a way that Jesus shines through me. And sometimes I see Jesus in others that makes me glad to have them see me through His eyes.
I agree with your words about how we treat life, the unborn. If only we could throw off our selfish desires when we see the decision before us to accept the challenge of disruption in our perfect lives, goals, visions...
There is one named David who was born in Brazil. His family was poor. After David was born, his mother got the news from the doctors that he was not a normal, healthy child. This child, David, was born with Down Syndrome. His mother knew this baby would never make it living in Brazil with this defect. Therefore, she prayed to God to take him before the next morning IF God would not heal David. The next morning the mother ran into the child's bedroom to find David alive and happy. At that moment the mother proclaimed God's healing, unseen, on her child, David. David grew up, attending a special school for children with such special needs. All the while the mother continued to proclaim David's healing to family, friends, and even to the doctors, in spite of their disbelief. One day a teacher in that special school saw David doing things abnormally, that is, abnormally for Down Syndrome students. David's healing was becoming visible. Today, David is an anoited worship leader. His Down Syndrome has been documented by doctors, yet they hesitated to say so because David is not Down Syndrome challenged. The doctors' documentation, certification, documents the miracle as well!!! There is evidence that only doctors can see that Down Syndrome existed. But David is as normal as anyone can be in this world, gifted to sing God's praises and experiencing God in ways we can only dream of experiencing. What faith that mother had to leave it up to God for her son's future. I have met David and have enjoyed the worship of his worship team! He and his worship team visit America on occasion to the Lord's House of Prayer, Quarryville, PA! His worship team's name "Casa de Davi" which translates to "House of David". You can Google and find David's website to find out more. Can you imagine what would have been missed, the testimony and life of David, if his mother made the decision herself that her child should not live for whatever reason?
Just a note about this recount in the Book of Luke. Most times we see that the Holy Spirit comes upon someone. In reading my NIV Study Bible, Luke 1:41 states that Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in Elizabeth's womb, and Elizabeth was FILLED with the Holy Spirit. Any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteSo there it is. Abortion is murder. Period. That it is.
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