“Christmas Changes Everything”
The Christmas story is the story that never gets old. It has been repeated year after year for centuries. What your parents told you, you told your kids who will share with their kids. What must have seemed like a mystery coming from the lips of the prophets became reality. Everything began to change when Gabriel visited Mary – and things have never stopped changing.
The prophecies of old began to resonate when the angel spoke to Mary saying, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:30-32).
We’ve all wondered and discussed the thoughts and emotions this young girl must have experienced. The fact she was engaged to Joseph only increased her anxiety. How could she explain being pregnant, but had never been with a man?
No law of physics can substantiate this announcement. Mary’s pregnancy defies modern science. It destroys the boundaries of biology. God announced the Son of God will be born of a virgin and skeptics have marveled how this birth actually came about for centuries. Sadly, there are many theologians today who still do not believe.
Christmas began to change everything even before Christ was born. It began when a young virgin girl totally trusted God to do the impossible through her. Luke 1:37-38 gives great insight to this story. The angel informed Mary her relative Elizabeth was going to have a child in old age – “For nothing is impossible with God!” Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said” (and the angel left).
God has always done the impossible through willing people. He has always put his treasures in earthen vessels and has the ability to take nothing and make something out of it. Jesus takes the rejects and makes them the elect. There is a treasure inside of you. You may look at yourself and see a big nothing, but that’s God plan. You see; He created you with a purpose but to fulfill that purpose He wants your total dependence upon Him.
Pastor Carnes
