Think of Mary for a moment.
She is a teenage girl with the dreams like any young woman of her day. Mary dreamed of getting married and having a family. She probably played wedding like little girls do. Mary would dream of having a family one day. She thought of what it would be like to care for her children. Mary had found someone whom she was ready to spend her life with--Joseph.
Then God stepped in.
Mary feels her body changing. It is the change of pregnancy. She must have been confused in experiencing this. Then the angel appears with even more disrupting news. Mary probably thought, "Why would God do such a thing to me? Why me?" What will she do? Who will ever believe such a story? How would she tell Joseph? What would be his reaction? Where would she go if those around her did not believe this unbelievable story?
Sure enough she tells Joseph. Initially it did not go well. The Scriptures tell us that Joseph created an "escape" plan from Mary--to put her away privately. He was not going to endure the shame and disgrace. But then something happened. Joseph had a visit from an angel as well. His experience of the unbelievable made it all believable. And then he too had to decide if he was going to live in this unbelievable belief.
When does the unbelievable become believable?
As a little boy the tale of Santa coming down the chimney never made sense to me. No one had ever been up or down our chimney. I can remember looking up the chimney and wondering. And what about all those homes with no chimneys? But then as a little boy, it didn't matter any more after I experienced Christmas morning. All the wonderful gifts and toys outweighed any question or rational thought I might have wanted to ask.
This has led me to believe that most of the wonderful gifts of God are to be accepted and experienced more than understood. Our understanding is shaped not by our knowledge but by our experience. Forgiveness makes no sense in our world. It is seen as a weakness and vulnerability. In God's world it is the only way that makes sense. And when you experienced forgiveness, then it becomes believable.
An old man admitted to becoming a Christmas scrooge. Then a great grandson was born. The whole experience of a new birth opened his life to the wonder of God. His life regained God momentum!
The Advent message is about preparing yourself for the experience of Christ to be born again in our world. To many it makes no sense what so ever. To those of us who have experienced it, it is the longing of our heart to experience it again and again.
Pray for me as I pray for you.
In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell
www.midweekmanna.com
www.stlukesimpson.org
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