Christmas Miracles: Miracle Confirmation

    

Luke 1:39-45

 

Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

NKJV

 

After the angel's visit, Mary left quickly to go to her cousin, Elizabeth.  Thanks to the announcement of the angel, Mary knew that the Lord had performed a miracle in the life of someone  else that she knew.  How merciful God is to give us the confirmation that we need when He calls us to do something bigger than ourselves.

The Bible records that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt and she was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy about the Christ's birth.  Until the birth of Christ, people were not filled with the Spirit continually, but rather, with occasional dispensations for specific purposes. This is a rare time that a woman was filled and the only time I can recall that an unborn baby is touched by the Holy Spirit.  This is indeed a special circumstance, a miracle of the power of God as the most pivotal point in  history, up to this time, unfolds.

 In verse 4,  Elizabeth confirms that Mary is carrying the Messiah. I know this verse must have brought such encouragement to sweet, innocent, Mary.  Likely she would encounter many people during her pregnancy who would question her virtue and the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy.  I love that the Lord cares not only about His will coming to pass, but also about the vessels who are carrying out His will on Earth.

 I love verse 45, because God is using Elizabeth to commend and further encourage Mary's faith .  Here is the element of belief. Elizabeth acknowledges the faith of Mary.  She discerns by the Spirit of God that Mary has believed the angel's proclamation and is walking in faith concerning God's purpose for her life. 

The story of Christmas is full of so many miracles. The miracle of the forerunner. The miracle of the virgin birth.  The miracle confirmation brought to Elizabeth through Mary. There are many other miracles that occurred as well.  God is a supernatural God.  Everything He does is above our understanding and filled with His supernatural essence.   When He allows us to participate in His plan, His resources  are without limit.  We can trust in Him.  He has it under control.

Dear Lord, thank you for walking through life with us.  Thank you for the encouragement and confirmation you bring to us.  Help me to be a person of great faith as Mary was.   In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Fleecing the Father

 

 

        

Judg 6:36-40

 

So Gideon said to God, "If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said —  37 look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said." 38 And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew." 40 And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.

NKJV

   

Have you ever felt unsure or in need of additional reassurance?   I surely have!  I especially feel that way when I am stepping out in a new direction, or doing something frightening or intimidating for the first time.  Sometimes the decisions that we are making are bigger than us.  Sometimes the consequences of making a wrong choice are so great that we can become paralyzed in our decision-making.

I love today's passage about Gideon.  I see myself so much in this "mighty man of valor" who saw himself as nothing.  He saw himself as one from the least tribe, the least clan and the least in his family.  He was hiding for fear of his enemies when the Lord  declared him to be mighty and valiant.

It would be easy to belittle Gideon's lack of faith.  After all, an angel had already appeared to him  and consumed his sacrifice in a miraculous way.  That should surely be enough for anyone.  But, oh, what a merciful God we serve!  He understood Gideon's frailty and insecurity.  He recognized that he was just a feeble man who had been through so much that he was broken in spirit.  He allowed him the blessing of not one, but two "fleeces."  Later, He even gave him a third confirming sign of his call. 

We need to be a people of faith.  We need to grow in our walk with the Lord that we no longer require three angelic trumpet blasts and an earthquake to prove God wants us to call and give someone an encouraging word or to give a generous offering.  We need to walk by faith and not be sight.  But when we are over our head, when we are stepping out in faith, when we have a large task to do- He understands our frailty and is willing to confirm His purpose to us!

Are you needing some reassurance today?  Ask your Father.  He knows you, he understands you and He is infinitely patient with you!

Dear Lord, I need some extra assurance today.  Please confirm Your will to me and show me the direction You would have me go.   In Jesus' Name.  Amen.