Promises Fulfilled, Luke 1:39-45
Luke 1:39-45 (NIV)
“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!’”
The other night my wife and I went to see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever with another couple from the church. As a Christian, I think of Mary as blessed to be the mother of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During the course of this movie I realized that Mary’s life had not been easy, and that she had to be strong and tough. She was nearly disowned by all those around her, nearly stoned to death when found pregnant, almost lost her fiancé, gave birth in a stable, and one day would see her Son die on a cross.
Mary’s life was nowhere near easy! Just because Mary was blessed and believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her did not mean things would be easy. But Mary kept her eyes on the Lord. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have been blessed to have been chosen by God the Father long ago. We can choose to be obedient, like Mary, even when going through difficult circumstances.
God promises that He will never leave us or forsake us. God did not abandon or desert Mary. As believers in Jesus, no matter what situation you are dealing with this Christmas season, God will not abandon you. He is always at work, and His plan for your life is good. He will strengthen you and build you up.
Remember that we can take a quarter and hold it up against the sun and blot it out. In the same way if we focus on our problems, we can blot out our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember that God is bigger than we can understand, loves us with an undying love, and He always keeps his promises. God never said it would be easy, but remember, we are not alone. He is with us. Emmanuel.
John P
