I guess I don't mind it all that much. I'd rather be hot than cold. And I really like the beach!! Anyways, I said all that to say this. Even though we're in the Summer season. I'd like to stretch your imagination back to a cold winter night. It was a night like no other. They say it's always darkest before the dawn. I find that to be true. Especially on this night. It was the night that Christ was born. Yeah we think about this at Christmas, but it's so extraordinary, we should ponder it every day!
The day that Light came into the world to extinguish darkness.
But lets go back a little further. Like nine months prior to His birth. The day of "conception". Mary 's life was about to expand in every way. God saw her heart and knew she was willing to bear His word.
Her angelic visitor brought a message that would shift her thinking completely.
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God wll give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
"Then Mary said to the angel, "how can this be, since I do not know a man?" And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will ovrshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One is to be born will be called the Son of God." Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26)
The next five minutes was probably intense with emotion!
Can you even imagine? (Mary) ... Wow! What just happened?! I saw an angel! And he said I was going to be the mother of the Son of the Most High God! "Who am I that such favor has fallen upon?" She must have thought about this day and night. How could she ignore such miraculous news?
"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19
She must have had a hard time falling asleep that night. Day after day she held on to that word which came to her. This news was so astounding, maybe even hard to believe, because God had to send an angel to convince Joseph as well. Although she couldn't see any physical change right away, Mary felt different inside. She knew God had spoken.
Let's move ahead to her second trimester. This is getting even more real! Her belly is starting to show. The Son of God is growing inside! She can feel Him kicking and moving about. Oh! What joy did flood her soul! For nine miraculous months, she carried Christ in her womb. And the Day of His birth was no less amazing. Her and Joseph would finally embrace the Son of God.
What a glorious experience this must have been!
I also have some amazing news for you. Are you ready to stretch your thinking and ponder it in your heart? When you're born-again of the Spirit of God, He overshadows you with the same Holy Spirit which covered Mary. Christ comes inside to live, in you! Although we don't carry the physical baby of the Christ, and we don't have to. He only had to come once to fulfill His mission. No, we have the risen Savior abiding within!
But I have felt Him "kick!" Sometimes when I read the word and get the revelation, it penetrates (as a sword should) it quickens, and "jolts" my spirit with life. And I know it's Him. This doesn't have to end. It's not a nine month pregnacy, but an eternal one. Stretch your heart to believe this impossible thing. Jesus, the Son of the Most High God, lives and abides inside. He fellowships with us, and gives life to our mortal bodies! It's amazing grace, it's amazing news, and it's an amazing reality. There's so much to ponder. For we too, are highly favored and blessed!
