Blessed Child (Advent 21, 2020)

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

Two babies by Divine Intervention. One the old-fashioned way, albeit miraculous for two old people. The other in an altogether uniquely miraculous way…from the Holy Spirit. God could do the first old-fashioned way all day long until the cows come home, a world of geriatrics with children, if He wanted to. The other, Mary’s baby—the Christ Child—this will never happen again. Once in an eternal lifetime. One Savior and He is enough!

Questions for further thought:

Why was Mary’s pregnancy a once-for-all-time event? Think about her virginity and the fulfillment of Scripture.
Think about Good Friday’s Cross, the tomb, and the Resurrection of Jesus. Why is it important that God will never do it again?
What was helpful about Elizabeth’s proclamation that would have confirmed what the angel said? Luke 1:36-37 “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

Lord Jesus, we thank You that You only had to come once and the work that You did was so perfect that it never needs to be repeated. We ask, Lord, for You to open the eyes of family, friends, and those in our circles of influence to see the miraculous nature of Your birth and how it’s once in forever, not just once in a lifetime. We thank You for Your work in the manger, Your work in Your 30 years of life and 3 years of ministry, Your work on the Cross, and the work that You still do interceding for us in heaven. You are at the right hand of the Majesty on high, making intercession for us, and we praise You for that. Remind us that You are interceding for us when things seem like they are out of control, like evil is running amok. Help us to know that You are sovereign, that You are in control, and that we don’t have to worry even if things go in a very negative way. Remind us Lord that Your plan is for eternity. Your plan is spiritual. Your plans for the hearts and minds of people around this world are not only now but for future generations. Thank You Lord for rescuing us. Thank You for Your birth. Thank You for being the eternal Word made flesh. We pray this in Your Name. Amen.

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Last year’s Advent Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.