4th Week of Advent: PONDER
This week we will hear one of the most recognizable stories in the Bible. The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will have a baby boy! Here we have a teenager who is engaged to be married, who is going about her daily routine, when God springs onto the scene in a big way. After an initial question of "how can this be?" Mary is all in, she says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
Mary is awesome. She is the first disciple of Christ. She is our role model because just like her, God has a plan for each of us.
We're going fast forward for a minute to the birth of Christ. In Luke's gospel, the shepherds come to visit, think about how Mary and Joseph must feel- they traveled to Bethlehem, they just had a baby, they're surround by shepherds, and we don't know Joseph's reaction, but Luke tells us that Mary "kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart."
This brings me to this week's theme: PONDER. The fourth week of Advent is a short 24 hours, but take a moment to ponder the miracle that we are about to experience.
Take a moment to ponder all you've been given.
Ponder what this Christmas will mean to you.
Take a moment to ponder what God is asking of you.
What will your response be?
