BH Bulletin - Thursday 24 December 2020

Thought for the Day by Phil Washington (BH Member)

Nativity Time
‘I am the Lord’s servant’ Luke 1:38
Alison, my wife taught in a local nursery school until she retired last year. Every Christmas, she read the Nativity story to the children, and every year, without fail, they sat in rapt attention. There’s something compelling and utterly wonderful in the story of the Lord’s birth isn’t there? Whether you are two or ninety two.
 
I still get goose bumps when I read Luke’s account of the unbelief of old Zechariah and the disbelief of young Mary when the angel Gabriel paid them a visit. Zechariah was an elderly priest and had worked his whole life in the service of God. He and his wife Elizabeth were true believers and were ‘righteous in the sight of God’ (Luke 1:6). Yet his reaction to the angel’s message was of unbelief. ‘How can I be sure of this’ (v18). Surely he had read about Abraham and Sarah conceiving in old age? Gabriel was not impressed!
 
But Mary - humble young thing that she was – her reaction was not ‘unbelief’, but ‘disbelief’. ‘How will this be?’ Note the difference. Gabriel explained, she believed, and, of course, the rest we know is history!
 
It’s OK to react in disbelief to God’s Word. After all, it’s so astounding. But it’s not ok to react in unbelief. That sadly is the quick way to upset Archangels.
 
Can you respond to God’s Word as Mary did and make her words your prayer today? ‘I am the Lord’s servant, may your Word to me be fulfilled’
 
Season’s greetings to all
Phil

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