Saturday, December 11, 2010

The challenges of Joseph and Mary

In preparing for tomorrow's message I am just struck over and over by the major challenges Mary and Joseph faced as they stepped into a new reality. It wasn't a quaint little story that was cookie cutter clean. It really wasn't...

1) When they faced the impossible, improbable, and unexplainable could they be assured in their hearts that with God all was possible? She had never been with a man, and Joseph knew that. Yet she was pregnant.

2)Did they think that God would come through for them once they stepped out and followed him on the new road in front of them? Because it went against 1200 years of tradition.

3) When God called them down roads yet defined, were they willing to abandon all they KNEW for what HE KNOWS? The minute they decide to step out toward God, terror turned to faith as he built there trust in him.

Three very probing questions for us as we are all called by God to walk roads that he defines for our lives. Can we move from being terrified of the unknown and into faith? For "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." [Hebrews 11:1] Every step taken down the road that God has defined for you creates faith in the very core of your being. Why? Because you are stepping out in trust that when God calls you to something he will be faithful to complete it.

How do we know that Mary, a 13 year old girl from the hill country town of Nazareth gave birth to the Saviour of the world? Because: "Nothing is impossible with GOD." [Luke 1:37]

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