It’s been a habit of mine for a long time. Every year
in December, I read the Christmas story from Dr. Luke’s account. He was telling
the narrative to his friend Theophilus and he includes a lot of details and
interesting facts about what happened when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. And, as many
times as I’ve read it, I still see new and beautiful things. I think of it
like a diamond. Every time the light hits the angled surface the reflection
causes you to see it just a little differently. So it is with Scripture when
the Holy Spirit shines His light on truth. You see things that you’ve never
seen before. Amazing!
It happened again this year when I read about Gabriel
giving his message to Zechariah and Elizabeth about her pregnancy and the birth
of their son, John (the Baptist). Remember, they were old. She was barren.
Yet, she conceived and gave birth in her old age. She was well past the age of
child bearing, but it happened. Consider if this happened now and it was your
grandmother who gave birth. That’s right, you’d be amazed too.
Then, Gabriel talked to young Mary, a cousin of
Elizabeth. Mary
was of child bearing age, but she was unmarried and still a virgin. Yet, the
Angel told her she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth
to a male child and she was to name him, Jesus. And, he would be the Son of
God. Again, if it happened in your family and a teen-age daughter told you that
an angel told her, what she was telling you, well, unbelief is just the first
word that you would use to describe your response. But it happened and she did
give birth.
Now, this is what riveted me. Gabriel finished his work
by saying, “Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) You
see if it had been me hearing those proclamations, the word “IMPOSSIBLE” would
definitely have been my response. Probably a number of times! Can’t happen!
No way! It’s just, well, impossible! Because I would have evaluated everything
on the basis of what I understood and what was natural. And that’s the
problem. I don’t know everything. And, God is not limited to the natural.
Notice he didn’t say, “Nothing is impossible.” He said, “Nothing is
impossible, with God.”
So, for this Christmas of 2007, my motto is this verse,
“NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH
GOD.” He is not limited by anything. He can do anything. Anytime.
Anywhere.
There is no problem, no relationship, no financial need,
no question, no dream, no health issue, no depression, no loneliness, no
addiction; nothing, that is beyond His power and provision! Nothing!
Now, when I include myself with Elizabeth, Zechariah,
Mary and Joseph and worship the God who does the impossible, I’m in very good
company, indeed!
Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Jesus!
