Advent means "arrival, coming", and in it we celebrate, and anticipate, the coming of Jesus. Here's something to think about: Jesus came INTO our world - the incarnation means "Immanuel", God is with us; but also Jesus comes INTO our lives - personally.
Mary experienced this. Jesus was born through her. She carried Jesus "in" her; but at the same time, Jesus came into the world "for" her too.
Luke 1:30-31,
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Luke 1:34-35
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
If the incarnation means anything, it means Christ comes "into" our world to be "in" us. Mary is carrying in her womb - a son - and, his name is "Yahweh saves". Then Gabriel says to her...it will happen as the Holy Spirit comes upon you and God's power makes it happen.
What God told Gabriel to tell Mary is a physical description brought about by the supernatural power of God. That same thing is also what happens to us in coming to Christ. God comes "in". It's just two letters, a preposition, but one that aptly describes the beauty of Christ for us. He comes to live IN us.
John 14:18-20
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
Ephesians 3:14-17
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ...that he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Colossians 1:27
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Mary begins the process. Jesus grew in Mary until he came out. It is not different today.
Can we understand this? Jesus is to grow in us, and keep coming out of us. We live with this promise and power - Christ in us. Mary carried him physically, but each of us can experience Christ at work "In us".
Is it true? Paul says "yes".
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
My friends, there is nothing more beautiful than to walk through any day with the one who has loved us from eternity past and will continue to love us into eternity future.
Peace
Mary experienced this. Jesus was born through her. She carried Jesus "in" her; but at the same time, Jesus came into the world "for" her too.
Luke 1:30-31,
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Luke 1:34-35
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
If the incarnation means anything, it means Christ comes "into" our world to be "in" us. Mary is carrying in her womb - a son - and, his name is "Yahweh saves". Then Gabriel says to her...it will happen as the Holy Spirit comes upon you and God's power makes it happen.
What God told Gabriel to tell Mary is a physical description brought about by the supernatural power of God. That same thing is also what happens to us in coming to Christ. God comes "in". It's just two letters, a preposition, but one that aptly describes the beauty of Christ for us. He comes to live IN us.
John 14:18-20
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
Ephesians 3:14-17
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ...that he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Colossians 1:27
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Mary begins the process. Jesus grew in Mary until he came out. It is not different today.
Can we understand this? Jesus is to grow in us, and keep coming out of us. We live with this promise and power - Christ in us. Mary carried him physically, but each of us can experience Christ at work "In us".
Is it true? Paul says "yes".
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
My friends, there is nothing more beautiful than to walk through any day with the one who has loved us from eternity past and will continue to love us into eternity future.
Peace
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