In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. (Luke 1:26-27)
The contrast gets me every time. On the one hand we have Jesus as the Word of God, God the Son—He who made all things and who lives from everlasting to everlasting. And then we see Him gathering Himself up, folding Himself together, laying His glory aside—to become an embryo in a young girl's womb in a minor town in backwater Galilee. I'm not surprised Mary had a hard time with the idea!
As I look around my makeshift writing spot at home, I see such ordinary things. A potted plant in the window. A stack of bills. A pair of shoes, forgotten on the floor. A dog yawning in the corner. How can it be, that the great and holy God should have any interest in my ordinary life?
It is almost impossible to believe—except that God has said it, and God never tells a lie. Small and ordinary as we are, we matter to Him. He has told us: "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son" (John 3:16a). "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). "You did not choose Me, but I chose you" (John 15:16a).
God truly wants us—wants you!—and that's why Jesus came to save us.
THE PRAYER: Lord, I can't comprehend it, but I know that You love me. Help me to trust You. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Are you uncomfortable meeting someone greater than you?
* Do you have a hard time believing it when someone makes it clear they love or take pleasure in you? If so, how do you cope?
* How do you plan to prepare this Advent for your great Guest?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today's Bible Readings: Zechariah 11-12 Revelation 2
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