Devotional 12-17-15

Last week the President visited Charleston to be part of a group to discuss the terrible drug problems in our state with all of the ramifications connected to the problems. One woman from Huntington gave an emotional presentation on how drugs affect families and children.  The president mentioned that having a child was to “have your heart go walking outside your body.”  This reminded me of a devotional that my son-in-law wrote for September 11th.  He used Elizabeth Stone’s quote, “Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.”

I know that he was referring to his sons, my grandsons.  It touched my heart to read what he and my daughter had done to prepare them for the future.  Now they were grown men who would make their own decisions. He had hope for their futures.

But what if he knew their future from birth to the death?  This was what God knew about his son from the time the angel appeared to Mary. I would give my life  and I am sure that my son-in-law would to prevent either one of them to face what Jesus would face.  And Jesus knew that his body was a gift from his Father so that he would be the human sacrifice for us. (Hebrews 10:5-10)

In Micah we learn that Bethlehem will be the place of the birth of the Son of God and that Mary will be the mother.  In Luke we learn that Mary has gone to visit Elizabeth who is soon to be the mother of John the Baptist.  Mary tells Elizabeth about the angel appearing to her and that she will be the mother of the son of God.  Mary is visited by the  spirit and understands her role in the relationship with God.  She feels blessed to be chosen.  This is known as Mary’s Song.  We learn that Mary knows the future of her Son.  Can you imagine how she would feel when she watches her son be sacrificed on a cross?

In Psalms 80 we learn that the world is overcome by chaos and that people were created and sustained by God.  But Covenant God remains firm.  This is called “Lilies of the Covenant.” It is the prayer for the Restoration of Israel.  All of this looks toward the future of the son of God.

Today we have our “Hearts a Walking” hoping that we have done our best as parents, not knowing the future.  There is so much chaos out there but we can never know the future. God knew his “Heart a Walking would die for all of us from the time Mary gave birth.  That would bring unimaginable pain for any parent!!

Let us pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your sacrifice that none of us would be Prepared to do.  Yet, You did this for us because if your love.
Amen

Carolee Brown