CELEBRATING ADVENT: Faith

ANNUNCIATION

From ages past God has been heard

through messengers who spoke His Word;

Although His face they could not see, still His truth many would believe.

On the day Mary heard God's voice, in her heart she chose to rejoice -

The angel's news changed her life evermore

as she humbled herself before the Lord.

And still in our lives today, when God speaks we must obey:

Trusting when we can't understand - this faith is a blessing from His hand.

~ Darlene Koop, Dec. 7-2012 ~

And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who 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 1:35, 38 ~

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord"...Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ~ Luke 1:10-11, 17-18 ~

Many people do not believe that God still speaks today like He did in times past. Most of us probably have not seen an angel personally deliver a message to us from God, but He does still speak and the question for us today is...when we hear His voice and understand His message, how will we respond?

I listened to a powerful sermon the other day in which the pastor spoke about the difference in Mary's and Zechariah's responses to the angelic annunciations they received...Zechariah doubted and Mary believed.  But before we criticize Zechariah for his doubt, I think we need to search our own hearts and honestly acknowledge that there have been times when we have not believed the message God made known to us.

Why is this so important? Because, as it says in Hebrews 11:6 -- "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

God has declared in His Word that all those who believe on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, receive Him and are given the right to become children of God (John 1:12). The real treasure of Christmas is the truth that Jesus Christ came to provide salvation, which comes through faith in Him (Romans 1:16-17).

So, amid the wonder and beauty all around us and in the joy of sharing the love and abundant gifts and blessings God has given us, let us also announce the truth of the gospel in the hope that someone may hear and believe.

"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began..." ~ Luke 1:68-70 ~