Christmas In July

LeeAnn Burdette

Central Truth

What we believe to be true about the Lord before inconvenient circumstances happen often determines how we respond when life throws us curves.

"And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." (Luke 1:45)

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be^{1

1:45
Or believed, for there will be} a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Footnotes

[1] 1:45 Or believed, for there will be

If you were in Dallas this past Christmas, you remember the snow on Christmas Eve. Somehow it seemed fitting, yet too much to hope for. The news, gray sky, and freezing temperatures all pointed to snow, causing a mild case of "classic Christmas" fever. But even with the predictions and signs, I was still surprised when it happened. Guess I hadn't believed it really would.

I think the reason the scribes and Pharisees were surprised that God kept His promise was because they hadn’t really believed He would. At least they had stopped paying much attention to how God said He would. Despite the Old Testament predictions and signs of Christ’s coming, the Jews acted shocked when He actually came, and they refused to believe. Instead, they were looking for God to do what they thought He promised to do or what they wanted Him to do.

Mary’s response to the angel and to Elizabeth stirs me. In spite of the inconvenience (that’s an understatement!), she wasn’t surprised, she was simply amazed. She saw the news for exactly what it was: God keeping His promise. That response in the face of that kind of news, involving those kinds of circumstances, is the result of a heart that is in the habit of practicing the presence of God—daily clinging to His promises and taking Him at His Word. Mary’s circumstances were complicated, inconvenient, unsettling—and, to an unbelieving heart, impossible. But her song of praise exposes a deep trust in God and knowledge of His Word (she quotes as many as 15 Old Testament passages).

I don’t know what God has planned for every minute of my every day, but I want to walk so closely with Him in the routine moments that I hardly recognize when the complications or inconveniences come along. I want to walk so steadily, so faithfully, so closely with Jesus, that, like Mary, I see His hand, not the hindrances—His promises, not the pitfalls. Every situation I find myself in is an opportunity to watch God work, claim His promises, and sing a song of praise.

1. In what ways have your responses to recent circumstances exposed your lack of trust in God?
2. What promises do you need to be reminded of today?
3. Why not compose a “song of praise” to God, claiming His promises in your current unsettling circumstance?

FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Who did Mary go see right after she found out she would have Jesus?

2. What was Elizabeth’s response to finding out that Mary was pregnant with Jesus?

3. Who are the people in your life that you want to share great things with? How can you rejoice with them when great things happen to them?