Remnant Ramblings

Remnant Ramblings

According to the Gospel of Luke, beginning in 1:26, God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee to deliver an important message to a young virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph.  This is significant in and of itself, as Gabriel had also appeared to Zechariah only a few verses earlier here in Luke as well as to Daniel 500-plus years earlier (Daniel 8:15-17, 9:21).  Each time Gabriel made an appearance in Scripture, it was to bring significant news.  We go on to read that Mary has been chosen by God the blessing and honor of being the mother of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

Mary possessed all the characteristics that would make the people of her day deem her a social outcast and completely unusable to God – female, young, single, poor.  What makes us seem unfit and inadequate in the eyes of the physical world is exactly what makes us precious in God’s sight?  If we had all the qualifications and credentials in hand, where would our need for God come from?  God does not call the “qualified;” He qualifies the called.  Often we feel that our ability, experience, education, etc. makes us unlikely candidates for God’s service.  The Bible is full of people used by God to accomplish great works, but started out with doubt.  Abraham, Sarah, and Zechariah felt they were too old to be parents.  Moses doubted he could lead the people out of Egypt.  How about the Israelites when they faced difficulties out in the desert?  Or Gideon when told he would be a judge and leader?  Or Thomas when told that Jesus had risen from the dead?

Being a young unmarried girl who became pregnant was a potentially disastrous risk.  If the father of the child did not agree to marry her, she would probably remain unmarried for life.  If her father rejected her, she would probably be forced into a life of begging or prostitution to make ends meet.  That’s not to mention the many people who would probably consider her crazy with her story about conception through the Holy Spirit!  But through it all, Mary stepped out in faith and humbly submitted to God’s will.  Although being the mother of the Messiah brought about some pain – ridicule by her peers, Joseph coming close to leaving her, and her son being rejected and murdered – her faithful submission was part of God’s plan to bring about our salvation.  Mary’s faith has been and will continue to be praised by countless generations. 

What type of work or task is God trying to use us to accomplish for his glory today?  God has an amazing plan for your life, regardless of where you’ve been or feel that you’re headed.  I pray that we step out in faith and allow God to work out his will for our lives, despite possible limitations we may see.  The only limitations our God knows are the limitations we place on Him!  May we be challenged and encouraged this holiday season and on into 2013!

The Ward family sends our warmest holiday cheer from our house to you and yours.  Jesus is the reason for the season!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ! !

Much love and peace in Christ,

Pastor Drew