‘Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.’ Luke 1:45
As we pass the houses with lawns decorated with Christmas stuff one of the most confusing decorations are the lawns with nativity scenes and Santa Clauses.
A picture of Jesus and Santa. Two belief systems. Jesus who is the incarnate eternal all powerful God, and a man.
This is not an accident or just a marketing scheme.
When The angel Gabriel came to Mary in the quiet of her contemplations there had to have been a thought in Mary’s mind of the things of God. In Luke 1:28, the angel said , ‘ Greetings favored one The Lord is with you’. Now Mary wasn’t more than a person. She was not divine or empowered. She still had to come to the knowledge of a Savior for her sins. Yet she was favored . Ever think, why was she favored? Why?
Luke 1:38 gives the answer, “and Mary said, ‘Behold the bond slave of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word.’ “
Out of what was in her heart she spoke words that meant, I am God’s vessel, I believe He can do what He said, in me, have your way.
Words of faith, belief in one single thing. God’s word.
Mary was favored because she believed God’s Word and in her mind and emotion she believed He could do the impossible. The impossibility was, God using her.
God wants to use you. He will choose the time and place when He knows you are ready. Want to be favored by God? Read your Bible in the new testament, believe In your mind and emotion that God is all He says He is. Trust Him with the level of trust that Mary had, Joseph had, Elizabeth had...you can have.
Santa like anything else we look to for favor, is a smoke screen and confusion to the real thing.
Christmas is about God with us. He is with you...pray.