“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed” (Luke 2:1).
“And it came to pass” – this is an extremely common phrase used in both the King James version of the Bible and the New King James version. The first reference is found in Genesis 4:3 and shows up regularly all the way into 1 Thessalonians. Normally, it is used to set the stage for an event – maybe a seemingly insignificant happening; maybe one of extremely great significance, as in the above verse. The things that “came to pass” ran the gamut of being joyful, awful, mundane or unusual.
The threads of God’s plans are carried along through many of these things that “came to pass”. Mary and Joseph needed to be in Bethlehem for Jesus’ birth, so “it came to pass …that that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus....” (Luke 2:1). The couple traveled to the city of David - and as we know, while they were there, “the days were completed for her to be delivered” (vs. 4-6).
What God plans, He performs.
“The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalm 33:10-11).
These verses certainly detail God’s sovereign power, don’t they? But we talk about having a “free will”. We have the right to decide what we want to do; to chart our own course, right? If not, aren’t we just puppets on a string?
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
“Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).
God is in ultimate control of the details of our lives. He wants what is best for us. And yes, if we stubbornly plow forward, rebelling against His word and will, He may step aside to let us see just how miserable a job we do when we take the reigns, or how lackluster our lives become.
Joseph knew Mary’s advanced pregnancy would make the trip of approximately 90 miles on a donkey’s back arduous. We know nothing of the communication between him and God during these times. I wonder if he had an “aha” moment when he combined the prophetic Scripture (Micah 5:2) with the required trip. Perhaps this confidence in God’s leading spurred them both on.
“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses” (1 Kings 8:56).
What God plans, He performs. We can depend on it. And this fact should not cause us to chafe, but to rejoice! Instead of feeling hemmed-in, we should feel liberated; indeed, Paul, in Romans 8:21, calls this “glorious liberty. So in “it came to pass” moments of our life, may we adhere to this well-known admonition of Paul:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
“Good…acceptable…perfect…”. Though things in your life may seem unsettled, just as they could have seemed to Mary and Joseph, don’t fear these “it came to pass” moments. God has you securely in His hand!
Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)
Showing posts with label God's plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's plan. Show all posts
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Gabriel's Visits
Roughly 400 years had passed since there had been a prophetic word from God. As Malachi closed out his final chapter, the next pages we find in our Bible were long-delayed. God seemed silent, but He was active. The stage was being set for fulfillment of Galatians 4:4-5:
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
Luke, one of the gospel writers, details these events. In chapter one of the book bearing his name, he recounts two visits of the angel Gabriel, one to an aged priest named Zechariah, another to a young Jewish maiden named Mary. As you read these familiar accounts, consider the messages (a birth of unusual circumstances would occur) and the responses of the two hearers. First, Zechariah’s news:
"In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John…. Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time" (Luke 1:5-13; 18-20 NIV).
Next, Mary’s:
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:26-38)
In both messages, Gabriel told his listeners: “Do not be afraid.” He shared with both that they would soon have a son, and outlined the events that would accompany the incredible births. Look at Zechariah’s response: "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." Gabriel reprimanded the priest for his unbelief, declaring would be unable to speak until the child was born.
Fast-forward six months to Mary’s encounter with the heavenly messenger. When told she would give birth to the “Son of the Most High”, she responded, "How will this be…since I am a virgin?" In this encounter, Gabriel reacted quite differently to Mary’s perplexity. I’ve often wondered, when both seem to be confused about how the unique births (according to normal human reproductive standards) could possibly take place, and were seeking answers, why Zechariah’s speech was abruptly silenced, and Mary just received a gentle explanation.
I don’t have the answer to that quandary. Perhaps it was because God expects – and requires – more of those who have walked with Him a very long time. Whatever the answer, the births took place at the appointed time, and the lives of Jesus and John were intrinsically intertwined, even from the womb (see Luke 1:39-45). John had the opportunity to be “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘“Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 40:3).’”
As John sought to prepare hearts to receive the Messiah, may we likewise provide Him a similar dwelling place – a soft heart where He can make Himself fully at home. May our attitude be such as that of Mary:
“I am the Lord’s servant…may it be to me as you have said.”
Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
Luke, one of the gospel writers, details these events. In chapter one of the book bearing his name, he recounts two visits of the angel Gabriel, one to an aged priest named Zechariah, another to a young Jewish maiden named Mary. As you read these familiar accounts, consider the messages (a birth of unusual circumstances would occur) and the responses of the two hearers. First, Zechariah’s news:
"In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John…. Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time" (Luke 1:5-13; 18-20 NIV).
Next, Mary’s:
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:26-38)
In both messages, Gabriel told his listeners: “Do not be afraid.” He shared with both that they would soon have a son, and outlined the events that would accompany the incredible births. Look at Zechariah’s response: "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." Gabriel reprimanded the priest for his unbelief, declaring would be unable to speak until the child was born.
Fast-forward six months to Mary’s encounter with the heavenly messenger. When told she would give birth to the “Son of the Most High”, she responded, "How will this be…since I am a virgin?" In this encounter, Gabriel reacted quite differently to Mary’s perplexity. I’ve often wondered, when both seem to be confused about how the unique births (according to normal human reproductive standards) could possibly take place, and were seeking answers, why Zechariah’s speech was abruptly silenced, and Mary just received a gentle explanation.
I don’t have the answer to that quandary. Perhaps it was because God expects – and requires – more of those who have walked with Him a very long time. Whatever the answer, the births took place at the appointed time, and the lives of Jesus and John were intrinsically intertwined, even from the womb (see Luke 1:39-45). John had the opportunity to be “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘“Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 40:3).’”
As John sought to prepare hearts to receive the Messiah, may we likewise provide Him a similar dwelling place – a soft heart where He can make Himself fully at home. May our attitude be such as that of Mary:
“I am the Lord’s servant…may it be to me as you have said.”
Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)
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