our response to the greatest gift

Response. It’s Christmastime and we once again find ourselves in a season of gift-giving. Have you ever received a gift that no matter how long you have had it, it continues to give you delight and joy? Or have you received gifts you put away and forgot about? Both are responses to the gift. In a land far away and in a time long past, a young woman received a gift that would change her life (and ours) forever. Her story is below:

. . . the angel Gabriel was sent from God’s presence to an unmarried girl named Mary, living in Nazareth, a village in Galilee. She was engaged to a man named Joseph, a true descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Rejoice, beloved young woman, for the Lord is with you and you are anointed with great favor.” Mary was deeply troubled over the words of the angel and bewildered over what this may mean for her. But the angel reassured her, saying, “Do not yield to your fear, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift. You will become pregnant with a baby boy, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be supreme and will be known as the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will enthrone him as King on the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign as King of Israel forever, and his reign will have no limit. . .. Not one promise from God is empty of power. Nothing is impossible with God!” Luke 1:26-38 (TPT).

The gift has been promised, what will be her response? Will it be one of faith?

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her Luke 1:38 (KJV) (emphasis added).

For a moment, let’s imagine our Elohim, our Triune God saying to each of us:

“Grace and peace to you, for you are favored. Do not give into fear. We take great delight in you and desire for you to be surprised with a wonderful and forever gift, Jesus. He will give life abundant to you. He will bring you into oneness with Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). You will be supplied with everything you need for life and godliness. Because you will be one with Us, you will be a partaker of Our divine nature. You will be given the very glory of Jesus and will be loved the same as Jesus. You will hear Me say, ‘This is my beloved child with whom I am well pleased.’ In Christ, you will become a new creation and His life will be your very life. His faith will be your faith, His obedience, your obedience. As He is, so will you be in this world for you will be conformed into His image. Holy Spirit will produce in you the Christ life, a life of divine love, joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. You will live forever forgiven, never to be condemned or accused. You will be loved lavishly for I will make you My child and you will call Me Abba (Daddy). You will be a joint heir with Jesus. You will live a life of Sabbath Rest for My Son will say, ‘It is finished’. For the work of righteousness will be complete forever and for everyone. For Jesus who knew no sin will become sin itself so you can be made into Our righteousness. This will be for your freedom. He will take your shame and guilt, and you will be FREE! You will be credited with everything Jesus accomplished. Your source will not be in yourselves BUT in Us who is your forever Source. You will accomplish more than you can ask, think, or imagine for it will be Holy Spirit at work in you. He will work in you to do all that is good and pleasing. We, who are Perfect Love, will cast out your fear. We will delight in you and sing over with you with joy. Abundant grace will be given to you. You will be Our masterpiece, Our glory, and Our beloved. And remember, ‘Not one promise from God is empty of power, for nothing is impossible with God!’”

What was written is not just vain imaginings, but the truths of the Gift taken from Scripture. See, Luke 2:14; John 10:10; John 17:20-24; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 1 John 4:17-18; 1 John 3; 2 Corinthians 5:17,21; Galatians 5:1,22-23; Zephaniah 3:17; Luke 1:37; Romans 8:29; 1 Timothy 1:14; Philippians 1:21, 2:13; Matthew 19:26; Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:1,15,17; Ephesians 2:10, 3:20; John 19:30; Hebrews 4:9.

Our first response to the promise at first may be like Mary’s, “But how could this happen? I am _______”. We all have words to fill in the blank. Maybe we think we are too far gone, it’s too late, there have been too many sins, mistakes, bad behavior, unseemly acts. Too many bad thoughts, scary circumstances, and messy emotions. It is understandable we would take our reality from this physical realm. BUT there is a greater Reality, a realm where Truth reigns supreme, the Reality of the Spiritual where, “not one promise from God is empty of power, for nothing is impossible with God!”

As we celebrate the greatest gift ever given to all of humanity, I wish you and all those you love a very Merry Christmas. Please do not put away the Gift and forget about it, join me in my faith response to the Gift and say, “Be it unto me according to thy word!”