God’s Great Provision by Lynn Squire
More than 2000 years ago, God met our greatest need: a need
to be saved from the captivity of sin, the wages of which is death.
Through a young virgin, Mary, God would come as a babe and
offer Himself as a sacrifice, a ransom to free us from our sin.
Mary knew she needed a savior. “And my spirit hath rejoiced
in God my Saviour.” (Luke 1:47) I doubt Mary fully grasped the trials she would
endure in order to see Jesus become the Saviour of the world. Yet, by faith,
she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto me according to thy
word.” (Luke 1:38)
For many, Christmas brings joy and wonder. For others, it
brings sorrow and pain. Even though Mary endured much sorrow and pain because
of her part in bringing the Saviour into the world, her willing heart made it
possible for us over 2000 years later to experience the hope of eternal life
through Jesus Christ.
This hope is what can empower us to endure the trials our
short, earthly life inflicts on us. If our sights are set on Christ’s eternal
kingdom then we will find peace and the ability to endure, even as Mary’s hope
did. She hoped in the everlasting kingdom of the Son of God she would bear. It
enabled her to submit to God and subject herself to those unknown trials that would
inevitably come.
Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season, and through the
hope He brings, we can find joy and peace even when this time on earth offers
us none.
CFP: As we wrap up our Christmas season and celebrate Epiphany, let us not forget who the wise men were seeking - the King of Kings! Thank you, Lynn, for this post!
CFP: As we wrap up our Christmas season and celebrate Epiphany, let us not forget who the wise men were seeking - the King of Kings! Thank you, Lynn, for this post!
Hi, Lynn! Thank you so much for this post. As I was reading this, my mind skimmed through the whole year of 2011--an extremely rough year laden with one fiery trial after another. But as I think of each one, I see how I was sustained by the mighty hand of God, and either delivered FROM the trial or given the grace to endure.
ReplyDeleteBecause of Him, I had one of the best Christmases ever and it had nothing to do with material things, although giving to and receiving gifts from friends and loved ones is very special. I was not depressed, as I thought I might be, and right on Christmas Day God wrought another wonderful deliverance to me, and reminded me that the babe is no longer in the manger, but is sitting at the right hand of the Father ever interceding for you and me! And Carrie, wise men still seek Him!
Thanks for your post Lynn, I too have thought many times of Mary and how she accepted what the angel told her and became the mother of our Lord and Savior. How a young girl could go through something like this and knowing the young man she was engaged too would also have misgivings of the situation. two young peoples lives changed and we are the recipiants of their acceptance and the beginnings of the life that would become so important to mankind.
ReplyDeleteMuch to think about...
Paula O
Lynn thank you so much for this beautiful post. I am so grateful to God that I was raised by a wonderful mom and dad that knew Jesus as their Savior, and they made sure we did too.
ReplyDeleteI see so many people living in misery that don't seem to know (or maybe even care) that Christ came to earth for THEM. If there had been only one person that would have accepted Him as their Savior, He would have still died for that one person.
Lynn thank you again for reminding us of where our hope lies...in CHRIST.