Just imagine, that no matter how long it’s been since we’ve known Jesus, every Christmas we have an opportunity to experience two births? That’s right, we get to celebrate Christ’s birth, and experience a personal new birth in the process.
I love the story Luke tells us in Chapter 1 about how two people responded to declarations of miraculous births during the very first Christmas.
Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were righteous before God, obedient to Him, but elderly and had no children. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to announce that their prayers had been answered. Elizabeth would bear a child.
Although he was a priest, at this point, Zacharias had given up on ever having a child. Gabriel’s declaration failed to stir Zacharias faith. He questioned the angel’s announcement and stuck with what he knew. He and Elizabeth were old and this was impossible.
Zacharias did not rest in the promise. Because of his lack of faith, the angel seized Zacharias ability to speak. Zacharias temporarily blew his opportunity to rest in the promise and to declare God’s goodness to others. Nevertheless, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, though her pregnancy in the natural was impossible.
Gabriel told Mary, a young faith filled girl, that she would experience a miraculous virgin - birth. Mary believed, and asked how this birth would come to pass? Gabriel explained that the Holy Ghost would come upon Mary and the Highest would overshadow her resulting in the birth of the Son of God.
“Mary said, behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to your word.”
Of course Mary was aware that she would be ostracized for a pregnancy out of wedlock. She also knew that the possibility of pregnancy without a man was impossible. Nevertheless, Mary overlooked the norm, choosing to gladly receive God’s promise of the possible.
Here’s where you come in. Father God would love to impregnate you with the possible, despite the natural odds that are against you. Like Zacharias, maybe you’ve given up on a specific prayer, thinking it’s impossible at this point. Or maybe you’re like Mary, open to the miraculous despite what others may say.
The miracles Zacharias and Mary received were for them, but they were also for the world. Through John, Zacharias’ son, many came to repentance. Through Jesus, Mary’s Son, the world can receive forgiveness. What God wants to do for you will bless you and others too.
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)
This Christmas give birth to the joy, the peace, and the possibility of the King of Heaven doing something new in you, for you, and through you today. With God, all things are possible. Are you ready to give birth?
