Wisdom is often shown in knowing when to speak and when to be silent.

***  

Zechariah had foolishly asked for proof of God’s blessing and he was forced to be silent while God brought it about.  He’d learned to be silent and learned to Be Still.  Then just as suddenly as he was rendered unable to speak, he is suddenly overflowing with praise for what God had done! 

***

Be Still When You Speak. 

Speak wisely.

***

Luke 1:64 “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. 67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us– 72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.”

It’s highly doubtful that Zechariah had been planning for the 9+ months of silence what to say, as a rehearsed speech, or a sermon with all the right inflection points.  Our Scripture says that the Holy Spirit gave him words, on the spot, to speak as prophecy, beginning with praise.  Zechariah, conditioned to Be Still from months of being tongue-tied, yields to the Holy Spirit’s supplying of words.  

* * *

Be Still, Zechariah.  You can point to Me in your silence or with your words.

Be Still.  When speaking, your edifying words of truth and praise show the greater part of wisdom.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  I told you, Zechariah, that you’d be silent until your son was born.  What I spoke came to pass.  It always does.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.   Praise as a response to My goodness is something to do for your benefit, not something I require to be complete.  My servant King David understood this. Psalm 145:10 “All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. 11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. 14 The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.”

Questions for Reflection: 

1. Read all of Psalm 145.  Why does reminding ourselves of God’s goodness and faithfulness help us? 
2. Does acknowledging God’s perfection—in any way—improve His situation?  How does it improve ours? 
3. In what ways is it instructive that Zechariah’s silence was inaugurated with doubt and unbelief but ends when he would offer praise and acknowledgment of God’s goodness to His people? 

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Still Christmas, Advent 2017 Devotionals began December 3, 2017 and are archived from that date.

Circumcision—the bris ceremony—is a family celebration for the Jews.  It reminds them of the covenant and at its most faithful heart, it’s more than just a tradition to observe.  It’s a big deal for Jewish families and everyone gets together for the event and parties afterward with food.  As we continue our look at the Christmas narrative in Still Christmas (Advent Devotional Series 2017), let’s take a look at the recorded bris ceremony of John the Baptist.  

Luke 1:59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”

Everyone else was planning on giving him the name of his father Zechariah, but Elizabeth remembered that God provided this blessing and the name he was to be given.  Zechariah has been totally silent from the day he saw the angel so Elizabeth was the one to speak: “He is to be called John.” 

Other people began to pressure her.  Then they tried to override her by motioning for Zechariah to nix that whole John thing.

Months of being in God’s time-out-corner had worked wonders on Zechariah’s heart.  He had plenty of time to remember the fear and to process the angelic announcement.  Remember? Luke 1:13 “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth…17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous– to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 

Zechariah surely remembered the “How can I be sure of this?” Luke 1:18 misstep.  He’d been forced to Be Still.  He saw God had been faithful even when Zechariah himself had not been a paragon of faith.  Now, he had every proof that he’d needed that God was giving him a son and things were unfolding as God had planned.  He remembered the name: John.

 * * *

Be Still, Elizabeth and Zechariah.  Things are being fulfilled in your lives. Get ready for a wonderful ride.

Be Still.  Peer-pressure melts away in My presence.  Who is the one you obey?  I’m glad you displayed that it’s Me.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  My plan begins with announcement and unfolds just as I desire.  Your son is part of that plan.  Isaiah 42:9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  My Servant will come in your lifetimes, Elizabeth and Zechariah.  Your son John will prepare the way for Him.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Have you ever faced peer-pressure or had someone try to override what you knew to be your rightful decision?  How did it make you feel? 
2. If you’re married, has anyone ever tried to work between you and your spouse to overturn your decision?  What actions do you see Elizabeth and Zechariah taking that might help you?

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Still Christmas, Advent 2017 Devotionals began December 3, 2017 and are archived from that date.

It’s hard to argue with results. 

For all the surprise that aging Elizabeth’s pregnancy provided, the birth of a son was something even neighbors and friends could celebrate.  

Luke 1:57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

As we continue our Advent Devotionals for 2017, Still Christmas, let’s continue to make-it-real with the Bible narrative and see the dangers to stillness presented with blessing, with a hope being realized.

How would you have felt if a long-cherished dream finally came to fruition? 

Would you be so over-the-moon happy that you could hardly contain yourself? 

Would you be so excited about the results that you forgot to remember who provided them for you? 

Would you take time to remember God when you’re so happy and in the presence of others celebrating with you?

It’s hard to Be Still in such times.  In fact, times of great blessing are times in which humanity is weakest.  It’s hard to Be Still.  It’s easy to forget.

* * *

Be Still, Elizabeth.  Take time to be joyful in the mercy I have shown you.

Be Still.  I rejoice with you and receive glory in your joy.  I love giving life and bringing happiness to people.

Be Still and Know that I AM God when you’re tempted to be more in love with the blessing than with Me.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  Remember the caution I spoke to your ancestors through My servant Moses: Deuteronomy 6:10 “When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you– a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant– then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

Questions for Reflection: 

1. Why might it be easier to forget God in times of fulfilled blessing? 
2. When others are celebrating along with you, is it easier or harder to remember God?  Why? 
3. We can remember the time of misery (slavery) or we can remember the God who redeemed us out of it.  What happens when we focus solely on slavery in our past instead of the present life, or even forward to the deliverance from our sufferings? 
4. It’s often said that Memory Lane is a great place to visit, but a terrible place to dwell.  Are we actually living in freedom or slavery, if we keep looking back? How do we balance cherishing memories and living in the freedom and hope for our future?
5. When hope is realized, where do we find greater rest for our hearts as we learn to Be Still and Know that He is God: in the past, the present, or the future?

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Still Christmas, Advent 2017 Devotionals began December 3, 2017 and are archived from that date.

How Mary could remain calm is beyond my understanding.  Not only would there be the shock and excitement, after all, it’s not every day you even meet an angel (let alone have one speak to you). 

But inevitably, there would arise judgment from other people.  Those who wouldn’t understand.  No one could, really.  Bear God’s Son?  You’re kidding, right, Mary?  But for some, it would go beyond the beautiful land of marvel and incredulity into the dark territory of judgment and condemnation. 

Keep Calm and Carry On.

Be Still and Trust God.

How can you Be Still when people judge you?  Have you ever been there? We could learn a few things from Mary on this one, too. 

Luke 1:56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

About three months she was gone.  Long enough– beginning at Elizabeth’s sixth month until her ninth.  Technically long enough to watch the birth of Elizabeth’s son John or maybe to assist with the birth process she’d experience herself in just a few short months.  Scripture only says “about three months.”  Long enough for her to begin showing.  No hiding it now.  No turning back.  Might as well face it.

She didn’t return home to where judgment would be worst until God had prepared her to endure it.  Maybe she’d seen the older, wiser Elizabeth deal with people whose outward actions are joyful, but behind closed doors, perhaps another story.  Granted, Elizabeth wouldn’t have the scorn of judgment, but she most certainly faced a few raised eyebrows.  After all these years with Zechariah and (snickering) NOW a baby? 

It’s not always outright judgment and accusation, it can be the sharp edge of a simple joke, maybe about the Ancient Near East version of a milkman or being a cougar while Zechariah was away on business. Maybe the drift of something in the air or beneath the surface, that talking about you behind your back.  Have you ever known it?  I’m fairly certain Elizabeth did.  And I’d bet my bottom dollar that Mary knew it painfully and all too well.

 * * *

Be Still, Mary.  When people judge you, I want you to remember this, Mary: it’s more a reflection on them than it is on you.

Be Still.  In time, I will vindicate you.  Then you will proclaim as David did before you, Psalm 35:27 “May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, ‘The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.'”

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  In the end, only My judgments will stand.  All others will melt away as I silence your accusers, even ones you know nothing about.  Even ones generations in the future.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  I AM the One True Judge and LORD.  I have a special place in My heart for the humble servant who relies on Me.  My Word says in Deuteronomy 32:36 “The LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.”  You can count on it.

Questions for Reflection: 

1. How likely are you to want to fight your own battles and argue with your accusers? 
2. The Bible has examples in both Old and New Testaments of people offering their own defense: Moses, Elisha, Peter, John, and Paul.  How do we know whether to remain silent because it’s a battle for God to fight versus when do we need to do it ourselves? 
3. Did Mary offer a defense of herself before others?  What does Scripture tell us occurred (Luke 1:26-2:40)? 
4. Read Matthew 10:18-20.  When we faithfully speak in our own defense, is it really us?

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Still Christmas, Advent 2017 Devotionals began December 3, 2017 and are archived from that date.

One look at our world of social media and we can easily conclude no one really wants to give up their 15 minutes of fame in order to experience stillness.  People craft ways of going viral and unfortunately, they are not only legion in number but way too often Legion in origin (Luke 8:26-37).  Much of the worst (live-streamed murder, etc.) seems to have subsided, gone underground, or maybe site moderation has developed a stricter code (which is its own issue, preferable to live-streamed sin).  Yet celebrity, or the hope of it, lurks around every corner.

As we continue our look at Still Christmas, it’s worth our while to see how to Be Still When Celebrity Tempts. 

It’s easy to take Bible stories and make cardboard cutout versions of humanity, or gild people with superhuman qualities and put them on a pedestal.  We do ourselves a disservice when we do that.  Or worse, it becomes idolatry.  Yet, there are things we can learn about godly living by seeing how those before us have dealt with temptations.

Mary surely knew the temptation to claim celebrity, but she resisted it and was blessed for it. 

Importantly, she turned her praise upward instead of inward.  She didn’t look at herself.  She looked to God.  She reminded herself of God’s supremacy and her humble state apart from Him. 

Luke 1:46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me– holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”

If God has chosen to do good to her and for her, it’s because of who He is and not what she was.

* * *

Be Still, Mary.  I chose you because your heart humbly looks to Me. 

Be Still.  Generations will call you blessed and you are… because you know the difference between receiving blessing and being the ultimate source of it.  

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  Let your hope and confidence be in Me. About My Son Jesus, the Bible says, Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  My mercy is better than any celebrity. 

Questions for Reflection: 

1. Pause for a moment and think about celebrity.  Do you wish you were famous, even for a minute?
2. Many Roman Catholics I know are concerned about the blurring of veneration of the Virgin Mary as Jesus’ mother to Mary-worship in some areas of the world.  Based upon the Magnificat (Mary’s song from above), why do you think worship of Mary would be thoroughly rejected by Mary herself?
3. Read Psalm 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. 14 The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. 
4. How does knowledge of who God is correct any desire we might have for celebrity? 
5. What characteristics are noteworthy of celebrity? 
6. Compare those to the characteristics of God in this passage.  Habakkuk 3:2 LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.

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Still Christmas, Advent 2017 Devotionals began December 3, 2017 and are archived from that date.

One of the distinct upsides of being still is that it inspires praise.  When we’re alone with God and are aware of His presence, it reminds us He is real.  There’s one response that flows naturally: praise!  Alone with God is a great place to be as we remember why a Still Christmas is a blessed Christmas!

The truth is God’s presence never vanishes from this earth.  Why does He seem to be so far away then?  I’d argue that it’s us.  We just choose not to see Him.  We choose to overlook Him.  We choose to push Him out of the way in our efforts to control our destiny, get what we want, and pursue our dreams. 

Not so with Mary’s cousin Elizabeth.  She’d been in a place of awe since she discovered she was pregnant, at her age, and with her husband having suddenly lost his voice (and who knows what kind of blessing that might have been!)  She’d long ago given up control of her destiny.  Now she was in a place of stillness to ponder life and see what is spiritual in her midst.  Mary comes in and greets her.

Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

In that place of stillness, she could easily see God’s activity in her life and recognize His working in the life of others.  The Holy Spirit took over and He did what He always does: He inspires faith and praise!

* * *

Be Still, Elizabeth.  Your inspired praise will be recorded in My Word for all eternity!

Be Still. Stay the course and you will witness greater things than these.

Be Still and Know that I AM God. I am the worker of miracles and the Giver of life.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  I AM at work in ways you do not know, but you will see when you are still and willing to watch and listen.  John 5:19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.”

Questions for Reflection:

1. How responsive are you to the Holy Spirit’s inspiring praise in your everyday? 
2. What about at church?  Is it just the meat and potatoes of a Sunday sermon bringing you to church, a sense of obligation, a comfortable club of friends, or do you arrive expecting to encounter the Holy Spirit and have praise well up in your heart? 
3. What inspires praise of God in your life?  If nothing, is there something you might be overlooking?  What can you do to get alone with God?  
4. What does praise look like … does it always look like charismatic hands-raised and outwardly visible?  What did the quiet place and experience of hearing from God look like in Elijah’s life (1 Kings 19:9-18)?  
5. How is it possible to experience stillness and praise at the same time?

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Still Christmas, Advent 2017 Devotionals began December 3, 2017 and are archived from that date.

It can be hard to accept stillness.  To be still when you know you should be.  To remain silent when silence is best.  To restrain oneself by an act of the will or by distance if you simply fear that the will is susceptible to weakness.

As we continue our look at the Christmas narrative and explore stillness in our Advent Devotional 2017 series Still Christmas, let’s look at Mary’s response.

By and large, I think that humanity…oh, we are a restless sort!  Had Mary been alive now, the temptations would have been legion.  Tweeting about your angelic encounter in 140 characters or less.  Posting your Facebook status as “Mary of Nazareth—feeling confused…well, how would you feel if God told you that you’d give birth to His Son?”  All your friends doing sad, angry, or wow emoticons and then getting in a huge friend-fight over whether your status is fake news and if you’re just trying to get attention. Instagram: before and documenting pregnancy pix. 

Even in Mary’s day, there would have been temptations to talk about it with people she shouldn’t.  People who cast doubt and send judgments her direction.  Maybe even her own family.

Here’s what Mary did to remain still when her world was just ripped out from beneath her feet:

Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

Elizabeth would be proof that what God told her was true.  Mary steps out in faith and away from the doubters.  She takes refuge with Zechariah and Elizabeth.  Scripture indicates this was a sudden decision and a rapid exit to get to their home. 

She would be safe there. 

Safe from judgment. 

Safe from doubters. 

Safe from second-guessing. 

Safe from trying to explain things before their proper time.

* * *

Be Still, Mary.  Elizabeth is pregnant just like I told you.  She’ll understand.

Be Still, Mary.  You’ll be safe here among relatives who have been as surprised as you.  They’ll be a safe place to process what is happening.  I know these things are too much for you alone.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  Just as I provided for Elijah with bread from ravens and safety in the wilderness (1 Kings 17), I have provided Elizabeth to nourish your soul and give you safety in the hill country while My plan unfolds.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  I will overlook no detail in providing everything for you in due time.  I will pave the way for Joseph’s understanding Myself.  For now, dear Mary, just find rest here.  Reflect as the psalmist did, and know deeply the fullness of rest I give.  Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 

Questions for Reflection:

1. Have you ever known a secret that you promised not to tell? How hard was it to keep from telling the secret?  
2. Consider Mark 1:44-45.  Did the leper remain silent and still?  What was the result?  
3. How hard is it to place trust in others to reveal the information when and if the time comes?  Read Matthew 17–Jesus has been transfigured before His disciples.  He tells them not to tell anyone until after He was raised from the dead.  Why might that be? 
4. What are some factors making it harder to stay still?  What self-interests might be at play?
5. Do you think this is more of a modern problem, like with leaks to the press or violating security clearances, etc.?  What about in your own life?  Is there anything in a communication culture making it harder to Be Still When You Should Be?

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Still Christmas, Advent 2017 Devotionals began December 3, 2017 and are archived from that date.

How good are you with incomplete information?  When someone tells you only what you need to know—nothing more—and to accept that “nothing more” is all you’re getting?  Are you able to Be Still in such an instance or does your mind ramp up, releasing your inner Sherlock Holmes to unlock whatever mysteries exist so they’re no longer mysteries?

Continuing our look into Still Christmas (Advent Devotionals for 2017) and exploring how to Be Still and know that He is God, we can see that sometimes God gives incomplete information and asks us to be cool with it.

Sometimes more information is too much information.

Like Zechariah, Mary’s mind must have been spinning.  She’s being told something that is not only way out in left field, it’s never entered her mind as even a possibility. 

For Zechariah, the angel’s proclamation was fulfilling a dream long unrealized, but still a realistic dream during his and Elizabeth’s normal child-bearing years.  It would have been completely normal had they been younger. 

Mary, however, is being asked to believe beyond the outlier and off the bell-shaped curve.  She’s being asked to trust in totally uncharted territory. 

A total mystery.

Not asking, “How can I be sure?” like Zechariah, Mary just wants to know the obvious:

Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel tells her enough to satisfy a need-to-know, but beyond that, to trust that God still does the miraculous.  Basically, “Mary, you couldn’t understand even if I were to tell you.  I’m asking you to simply trust that you have enough information and let the miraculous remain mysterious.”

35 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. 36 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. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

Mary’s response is powerful:  Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

 * * *

Be Still, Mary.  I know you must have a million questions.  Don’t be afraid.  I AM your peace.

Be Still.  Believe that I AM a God of love and mercy.  You trust Me and I’m glorified by your faith.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  I specialize in the miraculous and supernatural. Matthew 19:26 “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  I AM about to reveal what has been among great mysteries in ages past.  When the time has come, it will involve the Messiah, the Christ Child you will bear, Mary.  “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 3:6)

Questions for Reflection: 

1. When was the last time you were content to let God blow your mind?
2. If God has never presented you with a mystery that defies explanation, why might that be? 
3. When we insist on plumbing details of the miraculous in order to know all mysteries, what does that do to the size of the God we worship?  Moreover what does it mean for human pride? 
4. What character traits are developed in the stillness of incomplete information?

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Still Christmas, Advent 2017 Devotionals began December 3, 2017 and are archived from that date.

Most of us go through life as a matter of routine.  We blend into the backdrop of sunrises and sunsets, each day not all that different from the others.  Many of us seek to blend in, not wanting to risk being innovators, vanguards, or even color outside of the lines because standing out invites criticism or judgment or speeding tickets. 

Mary was just minding her own business.  She was following the usual order of dutiful daughter, betrothal and marriage to a nice guy like Joseph, hopefully to motherhood…like all the other Jewish girls.  That’s when God takes notice of her.  Not that He couldn’t find her before, even in a nowhere place like Nazareth.  It’s just her time had not come to be noticed, singled out, until now.

Luke 1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Mary was a “nobody special” as far as the world could tell.  God sees her differently.  Like with King David (1 Samuel 16:7), God sees her heart.  An angel comes and interrupts her life (just like he did with Zechariah) and turns her normal upside down. 

Be Still, Mary.  God has taken notice of you.  You are highly favored.

(Being noticed upended everything she’d been working toward.) 

God assigned a huge responsibility and never really asked if it was in her plans.  He didn’t have to.  He’d been watching her all her life and knew exactly what her response would be.

* * *

Be Still, Mary. I have been preparing you for this moment since before you were born.

Be Still.  I’ve noticed your heart of faith and have set you apart as a beacon for generations as the mother of the Only-Begotten Son of God.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  The promise I made to David “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever'” (2 Samuel 7:16) will be fulfilled in the Child you will bear.  

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  Your faithfulness has not escaped My notice.  Now, dear Mary, get ready to marvel: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Questions for Reflection: 

1. Would you say your gut reaction to being singled-out would be “great!” or “uh-oh”?  Would it depend?  Depend on what and whose assessments?
2. What do you think of routines and predictability? What’s the first word you would assign to routines?
3. What types of feelings do routines, predictability, and expectations elicit? How much depends on personality vs. human nature?
4. When things are routine or predictable, what does that mean for feeling like one controls one’s own destiny? 
5. What are some distinctions between a command to “Be Still” and a desire to “Be in Control”?  What would be God’s desire for you?   Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. 

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Still Christmas, Advent 2017 Devotionals began December 3, 2017 and are archived from that date.

How well do you handle interruptions?  Some are diversions, just brief strays of thought, some are bed rest from illness requiring lifestyle adaptation, some are from your child asking a question and your wanting to respond with love instead of irritation, but some are when God interrupts.  His demand a thoughtful response.  God’s interruptions are unsettling and can be life-altering.  Hold that thought as we begin our journey into Still Christmas, our series for Advent 2017, by looking at how to Be Still When God Interrupts.

Poor Zechariah was just doing his job as the Christmas narrative from Luke begins (Luke 1:5-25). 

He and his wife Elizabeth were ordinary people, holding a sorrow of being childless.  Everything is ordinary, typical…full of observance, duty, and custom.  But then God sends an angel to interrupt Zechariah as he’s simply doing the routine work of a priest:

Luke 1: 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.

Has God ever scared the living daylights out of you?  I totally get why Zechariah would be afraid.

13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you,

To a barren couple, this no doubt longstanding prayer being answered could have elicited many responses.  First, maybe “Thank you,” but when you’re gripped with fear you don’t always think of the best answers on the first try.  Zechariah’s was a total miss.

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

Yeah, wrong answer.  Kind of destroys that whole life-of-faith thing that pastors and priests try to uphold.  Asking God for probabilities, confidence levels, certainties that He’s not just shining you on, it demonstrates that you have no clue about faith even though you’re a priest.

19 The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”

God’s response of “Silence him” is fitting.  Time out: Be Still.

Zechariah’s response to when God interrupts was to ignore the immediate blessing and ask the Great I AM for reasons why he should believe God. 

Don’t be that guy.

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Be Still.  I AM in possession of knowledge you don’t have.

Be Still.  I AM not asking you to do miracles, only to believe that I can.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  I AM not limited by laws of nature or worldly norms.  My ways are not your ways.

Be Still and Know that I AM God.  Your heart can find stillness and rest in Me.  Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near…”For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Questions for Reflection:

1. Read all of Isaiah 55:1-13.  How does God interrupt with an invitation to abundant life?
2. What might be some reasons God interrupts our lives and calls us to silence and stillness?
3. Read Matthew 11:28-30.  How does Jesus invite us to stillness?
4. Read all of John 6:22-59 about the Bread of heaven, especially John 6:28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”  What is the challenge of stillness in a world of works?

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Still Christmas, Advent 2017 Devotionals began December 3, 2017 and are archived from that date.