Where did Jesus go? Escaped to Egypt, just as God promised

December 22, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

After the visit of the Wise Men to see Herod, it was only a matter of time before Herod discovered Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The Wise Men did not return to Herod and tell where they had found Jesus, but listened to God’s warning and left the country another way. Matthew 2:13-18 describes what happened next.

“When they had gone (the Wise Men), an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” ¹⁴So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” God knew the inquiry of the wise men would stir up jealousy and hatred in Herod, so He sent an angel. Like before when the angel appeared to Joseph, he was obedient and did not question the wisdom of God. He took his little family south to Egypt and remained there and waited for further direction from God.

Herod, in the meantime, did not wait to act when he discovered the wise men did not return to tell him of the new king. He knew they had found him and had slipped away.

“When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. ¹⁷Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

¹⁸“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Leaving a trail of blood, hatred and jealousy is Herod’s legacy. God knew this would happen and foretold both the fleeing to Egypt and the destruction of innocent lives hundred’s of years beforehand. Jesus came to fulfill all prophecies concerning Messiah and He did.

Where do you see God in this portion of the story? Certainly we see God’s foreknowledge of events, His care for Mary, Joseph and Jesus, His thwarting of Herod, His messaging through an angelic being, His provision of funds for the trip from the Magi’s gifts, His protection…. God showed his fatherly care of this new family and of Jesus’ mission for all mankind. God is our heavenly Father. He is the father to all who believe in Jesus, His Son. He gives us His Spirit, adopts us into His family and makes us His children. He speaks to us through His Word and we can speak to Him through prayer. God is always good, wise and loving. He loves and protects, cares, trains and disciplines His children. As a good Father, God gave us His Word, Sent His Son and then His Holy Spirit to help us live lives pleasing to Him. John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

May you be blessed today as you realize anew the love of your heavenly Father. He cares for you as no one else can.

Linda

Wise men still seek Him

December 21, 2019December 21, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today’s portion of the Christmas Story is one filled with wonder as we consider our All Wise God. Herod was an evil, jealous king who would do anything to protect his kingship.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ²saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

⁶“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” ⁹After listening to the king, they went on their way. Matthew 2:1-9

Herod did not know of Jesus’ birth. Since the Magi had traveled from the east starting when they saw the Bethlehem Star in the sky when Jesus was born, their arrival could have been 1-2 years after Jesus’ birth. It would have taken considerable time to come from the east, perhaps Persia. It would have been customary to come to the current king to inquire of this new baby king-where he was. They probably thought Herod, the current king, would surely know where this baby was, however, He did not. So they continued their journey….. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. The gifts they brought were fitting for a king: gold, incense and myrrh. The myrrh was presented to Jesus at this birth and was also given to him at the crucifixion as it was a pain reliever. Jesus refused to dull his pain by taking any (Mark 15:23). Then the disciples used a mixture of spices and myrrh to prepare His body for burial (John 19:39). The wise men had followed the star for hundreds of miles, knew that God was directing them towards the new king and undoubtedly realized the greed and jealousy that Herod possessed. Herod had listened to them but had not been eager to come with them even the short distance to Bethlehem. He let them do the finding so then he could take care of this new rival king. So…when God warned, they listened and acted. ¹²And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

God is wise. He is not simply all-knowing. He uses his knowledge to do exactly what is right. God’s Word is full of His wisdom. Both His plan of redemption which sent Jesus and His creation are perfectly wise. All wisdom comes form God. Job 12:13 ““To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” These traveling Magi or wise men came seeking the Savior. God in His wisdom led them to come at just the right time and to the exact place He had chosen. God protected both the men and Jesus’ family from evil Herod who He knew would seek to kill the babe. The wise men were truly wise as they listened to God.

What about you? Do you seek to know God and be filled with His wisdom that is in His Word? Do you have listening hears to hear God’s wisdom when He gives it to you in prayer or through His Word? Through faith in Jesus we can know God and understand the wise God we serve. Ephesians 1:7-8 In him(Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, Knowing Jesus opens up the wisdom of God to believers so we can read His Word with understanding, seek to know Him better and live a life filled with godly wisdom. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Promise fulfilled! Simeon sees His Lord, Jesus the Christ

December 19, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Jesus said, “Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Luke 24:44 Jesus came and lived the perfectly sinless life which meant that He made all the right sacrifices at holy days, was circumcised, and followed all the Jewish customs and laws. In addition, all that was prophesied about Him, all the work He came to accomplish was Yes in Christ. Today’s story continues in Luke 2:21-25 “And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” These actions are what we would expect from Mary and Joseph as they would want to observe all the right customs that were required by the Law of Moses with their new child.

Luke 2:25-37 tells us what happened when they came to the temple to present Jesus to the Lord. As you read, consider our Faithful God. God knows and loves each of His own. He will do all He has promised: caring for us, making us strong, forgiving, making us new, protecting and purifying us. From the beginning God had a plan to restore the world, break the power of sin and reveal His plan to us. We know God is faithful because He sent His Son to the cross to keep His promise. He is faithful to himself and His Word. We can trust Him to keep all His promises. Here is what happened when they got to the temple:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ²⁸he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

²⁹“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation
³¹    that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

³³And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ³⁵(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

How gracious and faithful God was to keep His promise to Simeon that he would not die until He had seen his Savior. God also confirmed from the beginning that Jesus came to be a light to all- Jew and Gentile. He also revealed that Jesus would be rejected and it would hurt both Jesus and Mary to the very core of their being.

How do you see Faithful God work in your own life? Do you see His caring for you in life’s circumstances, building you up and making you stronger in faith through the trials you face each day, forgiving your sins, protecting you in body and soul and cleansing you when you confess your sins? Look today for the faithful hand of God in your life. You will be amazed and blessed!

Linda

Seeing the Savior is life changing, just ask the shepherds

December 18, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Luke 2:15-20 “When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The shepherds had a glorious encounter with angels that prompted them to go and seek the child born in Bethlehem. Their second encounter that day was seeing their Lord and Savior in the flesh, the one that had come to earth to save mankind. Luke 2:11 was the glorious message they had received, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” People were amazed when they heard their message and Mary treasured what they said and stored it away in her heart. They all had personally encountered the Savior, Jesus.

God showed the world their Savior and proclaimed his work on earth even at this humble beginning. God reached down and rescued sinners from the penalty of death and hell that our sin deserves. We cannot save ourselves from sin because we are dead in our sin. God had a plan from eternity past to save His children fully from sin- from the penalty, power and presence of sin. He sent His Son to live the perfect life we cannot live and die in our place for our sin. Savior Jesus took all the punishment for our sin and saves us completely. Romans 5:8 reminds us of God’s motivation for sending His Son and our true condition, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” I love the explanation of why and how God did what He did in Titus 3:4-7^“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Through faith we reap the benefits of His love, eternal life, His righteousness in our lives, the indwelling Holy Spirit, His grace, mercy, hope and become heirs with Christ. We know and serve an amazing Savior. Thank you Jesus.

What do you do with the message of Jesus the Messiah, Savior who is the Christ? Are you excited, awed and motivated to tell everyone of your Savior? As you go through your day, think about the message the shepherds received. Ask yourself, what am I doing about the Savior who is Christ the Lord? Am I telling others of His wonderful love, salvation, hope and eternal life? If not, why not? Christ is the reason for this season as His is the message of Hope for all mankind. Spread the word!

Linda

Imagine seeing and hearing the Glory of God revealed by Angels

December 17, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

In Luke 2:8-14 angels from heaven appear to humble shepherds out tending their flocks.

Heavenly-Host That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. ⁹Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, ¹⁰but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹²And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

¹³Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,¹⁴“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

I cannot even imagine the awe and wonder that must have filled the shepherds. Seeing glorious heavenly beings, shining before them praising God and giving them the good news of the birth of their long awaited Savior, Messiah and Lord. They were even told where this glorious event took place, in Bethlehem. As Luke describes the scene he said the ‘glory of the Lord’ surrounded them. I can well imagine their fear at seeing such a radiant sight, but again the angels told them not to fear. God wanted them to rejoice at this glorious announcement not be overcome with fear.

Where do you see God in this event? In the heavenly angels appearing, the fact that the angelic beings spoke to the human shepherds, that the timing was perfect in announcing the birth of the Savior, that the angels knew exactly where Jesus was born and the angels radiated God’s glory around them. Truly it was a miraculous event that showed God’s glory. God’s glory is the total of all God’s attributes. God displayed His glory in the beauty and wisdom of His creation. Throughout history, God has revealed His glory to His people through His power, mercy, grace, judgement, holiness, love and every other attribute. In the Old Testament we see His glory symbolically represented by fire in a cloud. His glorious presence came to dwell in the Tabernacle and then the Temple as God came to dwell among His people. The Lord Jesus Christ reveals God’s glory completely. The angels were announcing the arrival of God’s glory in human form, His Son, Jesus. Hebrews 1:3 tells us “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Isaiah had a vision of the throne room of God in Isaiah 6:3 he describes the scene, “And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Ezekiel also recounted his vision of heaven in Ezekiel 3:12 “Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the Lord rose from the place where it was standing.” God is always surrounded by His glory and radiant power. Amazingly for us, in Jesus is revealed the fullness of God’s glory and we can know Him and experience His glory in our lives.

Knowing God is glorious scripture tells us that we can see His glory in His creation. Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Knowing that Jesus reflects God’s glory means that having Jesus’ Holy Spirit indwelling us gives us the power to bring glory to God by doing His work. Hebrews 13:21 “ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

May you glimpse God’s glory in nature and in the working of Christ in your life.

Linda

Provider God gives exactly what is needed. See it?

December 16, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

The story continues in Luke 2:4-7 with scenes that could have been filled with confusion, despair, hopelessness and desperation but God. I always love that whenever you see But, or Therefore in scripture you see the results of what God did or will do in a situation. Here Mary and Joseph could have experienced all those emotions BUT God intervened. “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

Mary and Joseph had to make the 60 mile journey by walking or riding a donkey. The government required they travel to Bethlehem to register for the ordered census. (God provided protection for them during their journey.) When they got there, the city was crowded with other travelers, and there was no room at any of the inns. The inn keeper having mercy upon them let them stay in his stables. (God provided a place when none existed and a merciful innkeeper.) Her time to deliver the child came when they got to Bethlehem, not before on the road, but mercifully after they arrived. (God provided the perfect timing.) They had no crib so they laid Jesus in a manger which is used to hold hay when feeding animals. (God provided a special place for the child.) They were safe and out of the elements because God provided what they needed. God is our Provider. God provides for every creature He has made. He feeds the birds and gives us our daily food. We do not have strength or goodness of our own, but God gives it to us generously. He provides a way out of temptation and protects us from evil. God’s greatest provision was sending His Son Jesus. Because He gave us Jesus, we can trust Him for everything else we need.

Where do you see God’s provision for you in your life? We live in a world driven by wants and desires, greed and power. Sometimes we have to step back and look at our lives, what we have, the people, places and things that our ours. Where did they come from? If you say, “I did it”, aren’t you fooling yourself? Who gave you the opportunities to achieve, who gave you the strength, desire and power to overcome? God promises that He will meet our needs, not necessarily all our wants. Philippians 4:19 reminds us of God’s power to provide, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” God knows what we need even before we ask as He is our all-knowing provider.

Here are a few other verses to ponder as you consider God, your provider. Psalm 23 :1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 34:9 “O [reverently] fear the Lord, you His saints (believers, holy ones); For to those who fear Him there is no want.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 ““No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Praise and give thanks to your great Provider. God alone can and does provide what we need physically, emotionally and spiritually. Thank you Jesus!

Linda

Bethlehem reveals God’s Omnipotence!

December 15, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

We have seen the power and might of God, His knowledge of people and His choices of who He would use to bring about His plan for our redemption. Today we see His sovereign power and His control of places and world events.

Luke 2:1-4 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,”

It was no coincidence that the Roman emperor had a census taken and that Mary and Joseph would need to travel to Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral home. He was in the line of David and David’s home had been in Bethlehem in Judea since he was of the tribe of Judah. In addition, God knew this ahead of time because the Old Testament prophecy regarding where the Messiah would be born was given hundred of years before the event in Micah 5:2

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days.

God knew when and where His Son would be born, and it happened exactly when and where God designed it. Not only do we see God’s sovereignty in the choice and control of people and places but we see His Omnipotence. God is All Powerful as He has unlimited power and influence. He does all He wants and intends to do. God is the source of all power and without God’s power everything would fall apart. His power holds the stars in place and sustains life. Having Mary able to travel, Joseph having to go to Bethlehem, the Roman government requiring a census are all evidences of God’s Omnipotent power. His power and influence extends to His whole creation and nothing happens by chance.

Where do you see God’s Omnipotent power in your life? Nothing happens that is outside His control. His will cannot be thwarted and He will see all to completion. No earthly leader or worldly power can stop God’s plans. Daniel expressed his awe at God’s power in Daniel 2:20-21 ““Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
²¹He changes times and seasons;
    he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have understanding; Daniel knew that God had power over all things, people and places. Job also knew of God’s Omnipotent power as he states in Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Look for God in the little things in your life and soon you will see His presence everywhere. God’s providential care of those who believe in Jesus is a blessing beyond measure.

Linda

Tender Mercy-what is it, who has it?

December 12, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Like Mary, Zachariah had a long song of praise to God after his speech was restored. Luke 1:76-79 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
⁷⁷to give knowledge of salvation to his people
    in the forgiveness of their sins,
⁷⁸because of the tender mercy of our God,
    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
⁷⁹to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

The first part of Zachariah’s song, Luke 1:68-75, praised God for sending Messiah, as promised. He speaks of the holiness and righteousness of this Savior to come. In today’s scripture, Luke 1:76-79, Zachariah is praising merciful God for his own son, John, who will have a part in preparing the way for Messiah. John would be a prophet, prepare the world for the arrival of Messiah and give the people knowledge of coming forgiveness and salvation. Zachariah extols God for being merciful and sending a Savior to give light in a dark world, provide guidance and would show us the way of peace. Just as Mary praised God for His mercy to her people Israel, so Zachariah praises God for His tender mercy to all mankind for sending John to lead the way and providing a guiding light towards forgiveness and salvation in Jesus. Here Zachariah calls it the tender mercies of God. Mercy is not giving us what we do deserve which is death for our sins and total separation from Holy God. Tender mercy is mercy filled with love for us. The Message reads, “Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God’s Sunrise will break in upon us.” Love, sincere love from the heart, motivated God to send Jesus to save us. John 3:16 says it best, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God loved us so much He sent Jesus to make a way for us to be made right with Him. That is mercy- we did not deserve. Romans 5:8 tells us, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” What a merciful God we have. He loved us and sent Jesus even knowing of our sinfulness and the great cost to His Son to redeem us. That is tender mercy from a loving God!

May your day be filled with His mercy and love towards you. Then give it out like God did by sending Jesus. You will be blessed.

Linda

Righteousness = God, what about us?

December 11, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

As you read today’s scripture taken from Luke 1:68-75 showing Zachariah’s praise song to God, be mindful of God’s Righteous character. Here is the definition of God’s righteousness-see how it fits with all God did and will do. Righteous God: God is right in all He does. He has always been right and always will be right. All of His words and actions are right. All of His plans are right. God has no sin and is positively perfect. God never lies. He is fair, just and faithful in all he does. We never need wonder if God is right, so we can trust God when we do not understand.

“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has visited and redeemed his people.
⁶⁹He has sent us a mighty Savior
    from the royal line of his servant David,
⁷⁰just as he promised
    through his holy prophets long ago.
⁷¹Now we will be saved from our enemies
    and from all who hate us.
⁷²He has been merciful to our ancestors
    by remembering his sacred covenant—
⁷³the covenant he swore with an oath
    to our ancestor Abraham.
⁷⁴We have been rescued from our enemies
    so we can serve God without fear,
⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness
    for as long as we live.

The people of Israel could count upon God to keep His promises, treat them with mercy, never leave or forsake them to their enemies and guide them in a walk that is good all the days of their lives. They knew their God was righteous in all ways.

Do you know Zachariah’s Righteous God? Through Jesus we can know God more fully and see His Holy Spirit working within us. Romans 3:10 says, ““None is righteous, no, not one;” Without Jesus we are lost and doomed to death because of our sinful nature. We cannot get ourselves clean enough for Holy God. Paul explains the solution to this dilemma in Philippians 3:8-9 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”

Give thanks today for our Righteous God who loves and desires the best for us. He desires we seek Him and walk each day in His ways. He desires that we grow in righteousness through faith in Jesus. Blessings as you meditate on the Righteousness of God and your own ‘rightness’ with God through your faith in Christ Jesus.

Linda

Mary and Me too, God knows our NAMES!

December 4, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Gabriel next appeared to Mary, the young virgin betrothed to Joseph, and told her she was going to be the mother of the Son of God. Mary was fearful and concerned about what this would mean for her future. The angel calmed her fears and pointed her to God. Luke 1:26-33

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³²He 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, ³³and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

There is so much to see about God in this portion of the Christmas Story. God is all powerful and can do all things, Omnipotent. God has a plan for the redemption of mankind and has had it since the beginning of time and He is using a young girl to move His plan forward, Sovereign, Eternal. But today, I see a personal God. The angel told Mary not to fear and called her by name. God knew her personally. She was not just some girl but one God had specifically chosen for the task of being the mother of Jesus, His Son. God is a person who knows us, desires a relationship with us and communicates with us. Here He spoke to Mary by name through the angel Gabriel, but He also speaks to us today through His Word and in prayer.

Jesus assured us in John 10:3-4 “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” Jesus as our good shepherd knows each one who believes in Him by name. We are also assured that as believers we can and will recognize Him when He speaks or calls to us.

Mary as a young girl knew this too and trusted her future to God. God knows you personally; He knows your name. Call out to Him today with assurance that He will answer because He knows you and knows exactly what you need even before you ask. Be greatly encouraged, the God of the universe knows you by name.

Linda