Look at What the Lord has Done!
When was the last time you were caught off guard? When was the last time you were amazed? Advent is about being, simply that, amazed!
Have you heard the one about the angel, the priest who won the lottery, the disregarded carpenter, and two Jewish women; one barren and the other a virgin? Such is how the first advent story begins. In Luke’s gospel, chapter one, we are introduced to such characters. The angel Gabriel reveals not once but twice God’s plan after 400 years of silence. Yes, the people of God sat in darkness and silence waiting for God to speak. I don’t know about you but I do not like to wait even 15 minutes, let alone 400 years.
I am so glad our God is the God of surprises. It is by His sovereignty that He holds the right to marvelous mystery, overwhelming wonder, and delightful surprises. The sending of an angel rather than a prophet, priest, or king is what should surprise us. God’s ultimate surprise is not of this world, but a heavenly surprise. God Himself as an infant totally reliable on a teenage mother. Really! I’m not making this up.
So, how do we respond when God surprises us? Most of us are too busy to notice His surprises. How many people missed God’s ultimate gift because they saw with natural eyes a would-be family simply looking for a place to spend the night? How many people were too busy attempting to meet the government’s demand for registry that they missed God Himself taking on flesh? Has God become silent again or are we just too busy to recognize His ways?
May our response be filled with music, adoration, and proclamation like Mary and Zechariah. Mary’s response to God’s surprise is known as “The Magnificat.” (Luke 1:46-55) This young virgin can do nothing less than rejoice in God and glorify the Lord because His mercy extends to every generation that fears Him. Zechariah, the priest that won the lottery, suddenly is no longer a mute but breaks his silence with a Holy Spirit-filled response praising the Lord. He unashamedly declares God is no longer silent, but has approached His people with the promise of redemption. (Luke 1:67-79)
My prayer for us during this Advent season is that we will not simply be affirming and recalling God’s ultimate surprise, but that we will be filled with the Holy Spirit and break out in music, adoration, and a declaration that our God is not silent. Oh, that we would be surprised, maybe for the first time in a long time, by the God of wonder, glory, and might. Let us join the contemporary Christian music artist Chris Tomlin in singing, “God of wonders beyond our galaxy, You are holy, holy . . .”
Have you heard the one about the angel, the priest who won the lottery, the disregarded carpenter, and two Jewish women; one barren and the other a virgin? Such is how the first advent story begins. In Luke’s gospel, chapter one, we are introduced to such characters. The angel Gabriel reveals not once but twice God’s plan after 400 years of silence. Yes, the people of God sat in darkness and silence waiting for God to speak. I don’t know about you but I do not like to wait even 15 minutes, let alone 400 years.
I am so glad our God is the God of surprises. It is by His sovereignty that He holds the right to marvelous mystery, overwhelming wonder, and delightful surprises. The sending of an angel rather than a prophet, priest, or king is what should surprise us. God’s ultimate surprise is not of this world, but a heavenly surprise. God Himself as an infant totally reliable on a teenage mother. Really! I’m not making this up.
So, how do we respond when God surprises us? Most of us are too busy to notice His surprises. How many people missed God’s ultimate gift because they saw with natural eyes a would-be family simply looking for a place to spend the night? How many people were too busy attempting to meet the government’s demand for registry that they missed God Himself taking on flesh? Has God become silent again or are we just too busy to recognize His ways?
May our response be filled with music, adoration, and proclamation like Mary and Zechariah. Mary’s response to God’s surprise is known as “The Magnificat.” (Luke 1:46-55) This young virgin can do nothing less than rejoice in God and glorify the Lord because His mercy extends to every generation that fears Him. Zechariah, the priest that won the lottery, suddenly is no longer a mute but breaks his silence with a Holy Spirit-filled response praising the Lord. He unashamedly declares God is no longer silent, but has approached His people with the promise of redemption. (Luke 1:67-79)
My prayer for us during this Advent season is that we will not simply be affirming and recalling God’s ultimate surprise, but that we will be filled with the Holy Spirit and break out in music, adoration, and a declaration that our God is not silent. Oh, that we would be surprised, maybe for the first time in a long time, by the God of wonder, glory, and might. Let us join the contemporary Christian music artist Chris Tomlin in singing, “God of wonders beyond our galaxy, You are holy, holy . . .”
SCRIPTURES TO READ:
Get ready to be surprised. May you respond with a soulful joyous song to the God of surprises.
You are loved!!
Uncle Mike
You are loved!!
Uncle Mike
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2022
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1 Comment
I love those pop-up surprises that God does so creatively! I have tried to anticipate or predict them, but He always pulls it off when I least expect it...when I feel undeserving or detached from Him. He knows how to get me back in focus every time!