I wonder, what to Mary was the dearest and best? I guess like most young women she wanted to get married and raise a family, and what God required of her was just that. BUT, this certainly was not the way she expected things to be. For her there was no knight in shining armour … they didn’t ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. For Mary, it was a road of struggle, hardship, experiencing her heart torn in two. When she gave God the immediate ‘Yes’ of her heart she knew the Scriptures well enough to know it wasn’t going to be an easy journey. She knew the Old Testament teaching, the writings of the Prophets.
She knew: ‘And you will name Him Jesus – God saves – because He will save His people from their sins.’ (Matt. 1: 21) She knew the consequences … she knew!
… She knew … ‘He was despised and rejected … a man of sorrows and aquainted with grief … He had no beauty that we should behold Him …’ (Is. 53: 3)
BUT, did she really understand? I don’t think so. When we sing and pray in all earnestness, ‘Jesus I’ll give Thee the dearest and best’ do we really understand? I don’t think so either. However, I thank God in our sometimes naivity and even ignorance He accepts our heartfelt prayers, blesses and uses them and in the process proves to us over and over and over again that we can learn to be content whatever our circumstances.
Paul wrote in Philippians 4: 11
‘I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.’
‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me for His power is made perfect in weakness.’ (Phil 4: 13)
Major Glad Ljungholm
Divisional Candidates Officer
Liverpool
Glad I'm loving this meant to find an advent book thats in the shed but haven't managed it so thankyou for this.
ReplyDeleteKath Harry
Glad you should get these printed into a book of your own and sell it for Latvia. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhy not share your blog site with all SA officers in the UKT? And also on twitter...
ReplyDeleteGBY Active Scotland
Thank you friends for your encouragement. This blog has now been circulated to all at UKT. Twitter ... mmm ... that might take a bit longer as I have not yet looked into it. Watch out for us on FB in the New Year
ReplyDeleteGBY real good!
Glad