The Birth of Jesus Foretold
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Luke 1: 26-38
It often seems like most images of teenagers going against culture, against conformity, an against the way the world thinks should be run, seem to be negative. We keep seeing news stories of teenage killers, about violent rebels, about hackers who send out viruses. I think that is why I like the Christmas story so much: a teenage girl accepts a challenge to go against the grain, despite the risks, and do something powerful ad positive.
Think about it, this young woman (we do not know how old she is, somewhere between fourteen and eighteen seems likely though) is engaged, but not married, and she is from a poor rural family. She picks up the challenge this angel messanger from God tosses her and accepts the pregnancy. She will give birth to a son who will eventually turn the status quo of the "way things are done" on its head.
So looking at modern day Christmas, we celebrate Mary's courage and willingness to be apart of change.
-C
I really like that. There is this song, Forgiven, which says...
ReplyDelete"We think the thoughts wether or not we see them through"
It reminds me that every time I think, even if I dont say, Man I Could just hit them silly right now! Or Man do I wanna kill them. We look at other kids, teens and adults who have commited murder and we tend to tisk-tisk them but just as the bible says
"`Why do you look at the spot of dust in your brother's eye? But you do not see a big stick in your own eye!Why do you say to your brother, "Let me take the dust out of your eye"? And all the time you have that stick in your own eye!
You are not true to yourselves! First take the stick out of your own eye. Then you will be able to see to take the dust out of your brother's eye. Matthew 7: 3-5
Well thats my input thanks again Chelsea... I really enjoy reading your blog posts.
Love Ya,
Tayler
The Lord will either calm your storm . . . or allow it to rage while
He calms you.
I love reading your input. You are wise beyond your years. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for you!
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome. I am glad that you enjoy reading them. Having someones "stamp of approval" (per say) means that I can justifiably continue to blog. =)
Love ya too, Chels