Luke 1:49-50 KJV
[49] For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name. [50] And his mercy is on them that fear him From generation to generation.
The words above were pronounced by Mary, the mother of Jesus, just before His birth. She had received news that shook her entire life, because what was ahead for her was unusual and miraculous. How do you tell a virgin, who has been engaged to be married, that she would be pregnant with child, with no help from the man she was betrothed to? How do you convince that man to stay committed and quiet in the face of these conflicting issues? In the event that Mary even thought that it was too good to be true, she was told, and she came and confirmed that her aunt Elizabeth, who had been barren for years, was now pregnant. All of these events made it clear to Mary that something amazing was just around the corner, and she was privileged to be a part of what God was about to do. Are there challenges in front of you right now? Be sure you are on God's side; the end looks nothing like the present.
We know how the story developed. Mary had that child, born in human likeness, walked the earth like us, felt what we felt and then, He offered up the perfect sacrifice for sin for all of mankind, so we could be reconciled to God. He paid such a huge price for us, and the best we can do in appreciation of this sacrifice is to give our lives to Him in return. Reflect on the depth and scope of a love that did not wait for me to earn or deserve what He was offering. The sacrifice was made at a time that none of us alive today was born, and there were no guarantees that we would submit to or accept His love. That is what makes what Jesus did both thoughtful and at the same time, sobering. This calls for me to reflect, like Mary here, on what I have received and how I can fully maximise the benefits and blessings that come from this sacrifice of love by Jesus.
That is the message of the verses above. God has done mighty things for us. The Holy God took on sin and fully paid the legal price for its full discharge. The One who knew no sin became sin for us, so that we could become the righteousness of God. What is the right response to this? That is the message in the second verse above: Fear God. He has done His bit and now waits for me to respond. Fear of God will lead to taking the right steps to embrace His love. Fear of God will help me to pursue good and shun evil. Fear of God will help me run away from all that God hates and embrace all that God loves. Please do not take the grace and gift of God for granted. Do not wait for the 'best time' to surrender your life to Christ. Today is a present; tomorrow is not guaranteed for anyone. As it was in the days of Mary, so is it now. The Holy God is still waiting for as many as would come. Yes, generations and dispensations will come and go, but His arms are wide open. Come in, before it is too late. God's time of favour is here.
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