DID YOU KNOW THAT THE CHRISTMAS STORY INDICATES THAT ONE CAN CHOOSE EITHER BE WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF GOD’S MERCY?
· God expects us to stand against evil and sin, not passively accept what is not pleasing or honoring to Him (Poppy Smith)
· What makes ministry in the Bible Belt most difficult is that people who aren’t Christians think they’re Christians (Matt Chandler)
· Human history is littered with examples of humans trusting human inventions to do what only God can do (Jim Denison)
· A media-driven culture of images has replaced the word-centered culture that gave birth to the Reformation churches (Albert Mohler)
· Though gradually, though no one remembers exactly how it happened, the unthinkable becomes tolerable. And then acceptable. And then legal. And then applaudable (Joni Eareckson Tada).
· You cannot see faith, but you can see the footprints of the faithful. We must leave behind “faithful footprints” for others to follow.” (Dennis Anderson)
· Many Christians `stall out´ in the faith when the call to total commitment is received or viewed as something too high or too hard to acquire…or they have never been taught that total commitment is Christ´s demand for all His followers (Chip Ingram)
Text: Luke 1:46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Christmas is a time to reflect on the great transaction that changed the destiny of mankind by including those who had no hope of having a living relationship with God. It is possible to feel like your imperfections, insecurities, or fears keep you from having a strong relationship with others and with God. It is therefore important to learn how to experience God’s love and more authentic ways to trust Him. The knowledge gained through the world we dwell in can become the inroads that Satan uses to unconsciously keep us subject to his directions while professing faith in God. Mary, pregnant with what got conceived through the Holy Spirit, brought forth deep truths for us .
LEARNING FROM MARY HOW TO BE WITHIN THE RANGE OF GOD’S MERCY
God’s mercy extends to those who recognize God’s grace – That realization of a God who reaches out to us is a major distinction between Christianity and other religions. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). Mary rejoiced over coming to terms with God’s taking note of her. ‘Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling’. It is people who have been treated with great contempt and disdain by those they truly loved, very often rejected, overlooked, and excluded The Christmas message is about the grace of the Lord that has been made available to us.
God’s work is done through His people – The conception of a divine baby in Mary’s womb was initiated and implemented by God. Mary acknowledges that ‘the Mighty One has done great things for me’ and that brings to realization that His name should be set apart as special. In our interpersonal relationships one has power when his/her name has weight. Doors and opportunities open because the person is present or his/her name is used. ‘The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe’ (Proverbs 18:10). To pray in the name of Jesus is to bring all the truth of Jesus's life and ministry to bear on the issue you are bringing to God in prayer. ‘And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it’ (John 14:13-14). Using Jesus' name is not a magic charm, but a signal that one is laying down personal desires and knowledge to rely on God’s authority.
God’s mercy extends to those who fear him – The word “mercy” has the connotation of forgiveness, helpfulness, thoughtfulness, and consideration. Jeremiah who saw himself as having been deprived of peace and even forgot what prosperity was like; his splendor and all that he had hoped for was gone; recalled that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:17-23). To fear the Lord is to know He is the only hope one has. I heard a preacher say: whatever holds your attention, whatever you behold, is what holds you. Those who are awed by God, have their hearts stayed on Him. To fear God is to esteem His word, who He is, His omnipresence and potency and holiness. Christmas is a time to recall to mind what it is that God has done and therefore have hope.
Strength in God’s right hand – Mary recognized God’s arm as a powerful ruling arm, His justice, His holiness, and His strength. The “right hand” is seen as a place of honor and status throughout the biblical text. When the Bible makes statements that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, it means He is in the place of honor and power. ‘Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?’ (Deuteronomy 4:34). God’s right Hand is a metaphor for the omnipotence of God. To be within the range of God’s mercy is to live in the joy and security of knowing God’s right Hand of protection, promise, and provision is available. Though there are times we might not understand the ‘Big Picture’, the ultimate plan of God, the essence of our faith that has been available by the coming of Christ, who described himself as the way. ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6). It is being on the way that we experience God’s presence and strength.
THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF GOD’S MERCY
The proud in their inmost thoughts – Thoughts, ideas, and imaginations deeply hidden and embedded can have subtle and powerful influence on a person’s view of self and of life. Pride is an undue sense of one’s importance or superiority cherished in the mind or as displayed and cannot be hidden from God. Those inclinations that cause one to elevate his/her sense of self removes one from the range of receiving God’s mercy. Pride, which could manifest as vanity, conceit, and arrogance, is an anti-God state of mind that focuses a person to rely on the opinions of others. One’s placement in the societal or church hierarchy, or possession of things that enable one to have a wide range of options to choose from one being held in high esteem by the community, can blind one from recognizing their need for God. Pride, whether one is conscious of it or not, alienates one from God. The Christmas message has a different meaning for those who would imagine that they can share God’s glory with Him.
The throne cannot be shared – According to Mary, the rulers are brought down. That means the Caesars, Herods, Pilates, rulers of the Synagogues and all those who seek to dominate, control and subdue others had lost their place. Jesus coming brought a new order in which the dominated would be liberated and the oppressors would be thrown down. Jesus' coming brought a fundamental change in the economic system of human societies, with God’s will for economic justice and political freedom for the oppressed-on earth. ‘The free man has never been a religious tyrant, nor has he sought to lord it over God's heritage. It is fear and lack of self-assurance that has led men to try to bring others under their feet. They have had some interest to protect, some position to secure, so they have demanded subjection from their followers as a guarantee of their own safety. But the free man – never. He has nothing to protect, no ambition to pursue and no enemy to fear. For that reason, he is completely careless of his standing among men. If they follow him – well and good. If not, he loses nothing that he holds dear. But whether he is accepted or rejected, he will go on loving his people with sincere devotion, and only death can silence his tender intercession for them’ (A.W. Tozer)
The rich are sent away empty – There is a very consistent narrative in the bible where people’s interpretation of rich is outrightly poor in God’s perspective. ‘You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. . . ‘You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.’ (Revelation 3: 1b, 17). Though money gives people power to make choices, in a very subtle way, it can displace the need to depend on God once people have been lured away from life with God. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). A rich life is one defined by God’s unconditional love and appreciation of grace. An empty life is one defined by what people have and what others think of them. Jesus’ teaching about the present reality is that ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God’ (Luke 6:20). Those whose security is in God have no wealth to stand in the way of loving God. To be kept busy attracting adoring fans that nurture nominal Christianity, outward symbols of prosperity and power, and other external religious activity while devoid of spiritual life and power, is poverty that makes people be sent away empty from Gods presence.
The season of Christmas is a reminder of a time when God chose to reveal His plan for human beings. ‘The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law’ (Deuteronomy 29:29). Understanding the Christmas season is a time to examine whether one is within the range of God’s mercy or outside of it. To be within God’s mercy begins with appreciation of the most important gift – salvation. Jesus coming created a bridge between God and man, and included a very meticulous plan, from birth, life, death and resurrection and ascension into heaven and that includes His coming back again that is yet to happen. In the midst of increasing political turmoil, wars, natural disasters, pandemics, and human evil, there is hope in Jesus coming. ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people’ (Luke 2:10). It is a revealed fact that God loves people and knows that their best life is experienced when they are in a relationship with Him. Christmas is a reminder that through Jesus, the Father made only one provision for the sins of the world. God intended for people to turn to Him in repentance, and to experience forgiveness of sins through His son Jesus. Andrew Strom says that it is not possible to be free of the problems that cultural Christianity breeds unless one deals with these problems at their root. A lifestyle that estranges one from the reason Jesus was born is the worst thing that can happen to a human being. It means one not only loses the joy of having the Lord as His shield and defender, but there is also no hope for eternity. With the best of human intentions, one ends up wrecked on the rocks of self-centered cultural expectations and inclinations. How are you handling God’s indescribable gift, graciously and mercifully given freely because He knows that nobody deserves it?
‘If all your attention is focused on God through His Word, then the only thing that you will be full of is God and what His Word produces’ (Andrew Womack)