Thanks, Mom (Advent 15, 2023)

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless,
Christ died for the ungodly…
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6,8)

Jesus couldn’t have died in His 30’s if He’d never been born.

If there had ever been a case in which it could be argued, “My body, my choice,” Mary was it. I’m glad she chose life.

Questions for further thought:

Think about all the reasons women use under the umbrella of “My body, my choice” to justify ending a pregnancy. Not the right time. Not ready. Can’t afford a baby. I wouldn’t want to bring a baby into this world. The man I’m with doesn’t want to have children.

Why is it even more remarkable that Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)?

How did God’s Word to Mary reflect mostly traditional Messianic expectations? “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 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, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:31-33)

How did God’s Word to Joseph display a different understanding? “An angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:19-21)

Is saving people from their sins part of the traditional Jewish Messianic expectation? Would righteous and observant Joseph have known this? How was God’s plan larger than the traditional expectation?

Both Joseph and Mary would have seen His birth as being “From the Jews” and for the Jews. How did the Word given to Joseph expand that as being of “For the world?” Were Jews alone sinners or worse sinners?

Prayer: Father God, we praise You that, in Your wisdom, You brought Jesus in the world at the perfect time and that the descendants of Abraham would be like sand on the seashore or stars in the sky. Thank You that You are bringing those from every “tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10). Thank You for Mary and Joseph doing their part “From the Jews” so that Your followers today can do our part as “For the World.” Make us fruitful in our generation. Remind us the harvest is still plentiful. For Your glory. Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:

“Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
2020’s 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.