Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 11: Read Luke 1:39-45

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Luke 1:39-45 reveals an encounter Mary had with her relative Elizabeth after Mary found out she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Mary, having learned her relative Elizabeth was pregnant although she was very old, rushes to a town in the hills of Judea. Mary greets Elizabeth and at the sound of Mary's voice Elizabeth's unborn child jumps within her. Elizabeth is then filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaims, "God has blessed you more than any other woman, and he has blessed the baby to which you will give birth. Why has this good thing happened to me, that the mother of my Lord come to me? When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy. You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen."

This short passage tells us a lot about Mary and the experience she is going to have. Mary, upon hearing her relative's good news, goes to her relative to celebrate with her. She could have stayed in Nazareth and reveled in her own good news, after all God was going to bless her with her own baby, but instead she chooses to share in her relative's blessing. Mary doesn't tell Elizabeth what the Lord said would happen to her, but instead celebrates her relative. This action shows her humbleness and willingness to let someone else shine brighter. The Holy Spirit fills Elizabeth and it is then that Mary's news is revealed to Elizabeth. Elizabeth's revelation reveals that Mary is going to give birth to the Lord. Previously it was understood that the baby would be a part of God, His son, but this confirms that He will in fact be God. Elizabeth states that Mary is blessed because she believed the Lord when He spoke to her His will for her life. 

From Mary's story we are able to learn three things. First, humbleness is a character trait that God desires. We are human beings, which means that each of us is different in our areas of strengths and weaknesses. This means that no one can really be a better human being, in other words having a reason to hold themselves above others, because no one is perfectly strong in every area of life. Mary had a reason that we just don't have, she was carrying God's son, but she didn't allow that reason to change who she was, a human being. We are not responsible for our success, God is, and for that reason we should be humble about ourselves. Second, Mary heard good news about a relative and went to that relative to celebrate with her. Scripture says that we should rejoice with those who rejoice and be sorrowful with those who are sorrowful. Instead of focusing on herself, Mary chose to think of her relative and express her congratulations in person. Third, the Lord blesses us when we believe what He has said. Mary believed the Lord when He said she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and as a result He blessed her. The news Mary was given was not something that was easy to believe and yet she trusted in the Lord to such a degree that she believed something that was unbelievable. 

November Challenge: Day 5

November represents the start of the holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years) and for some people the holiday season represents a time of sadness and hardship. The sadness and hardship felt can be the result of symbolic or actual loss, but prevents individuals from fully enjoying their holiday season with friends and family. I have experienced a few such holiday seasons myself and have known many other people who have also shared in similar feelings during the holiday season. During this period you are experiencing sadness at a time when you are also feeling social pressure to be happy and thankful for your blessings. Your friends and family may even suggest that you be happy and grateful because they just don't know what to say anymore. You may even experience an intense feeling of guilt because you can't just be happy or filled with gratitude like everyone else. I just want to state that it is perfectly ok to feel grief at a loss and to mourn that loss during a time that everyone is rejoicing. To be filled with grief or even to mourn is not sinful and therefore you have no reason to be filled with guilt. 

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." - Matthew 5:4

This morning as I read my Devotional Daily email I was reminded of this truth. Today's excerpt was from Bo Stern's book When Holidays Hurt and was a powerful testimony about the dance of grief and gratitude. There are three key words from this verse: bless, mourn, and comfort. We can be happy to mourn because God Himself shall comfort us. God comes near to us in our grief and comforts us. It is only through mourning that we can experience this level of God's presence in our lives. God reminds us that it is ok to be broken with Him. In our grief we will be comforted. Bo Stern challenges her readers to find hidden hope by making two columns on a sheet of paper, labeling one grief and one gratitude. List everything you feel in one of the columns, making sure you are being honest with how you're really feeling, and then write blessed, mourn, and comfort over the list, asking Jesus to show you the ways He is working in every area of your life. In strength, in weakness, in brightness, and in darkness we thank God. 

Today I am thankful for knowledge. It is through knowledge that we have understanding. It is understanding that allows us to be sympathetic and comforting to those around us who are experiencing a hard holiday season. We can grieve with those who are grieving and rejoice with those who are rejoicing. This holiday season, whether we are grieving or rejoicing, we can be grateful because we are blessed in God's love for His children. 

What are you thankful for today?