Advent Meditations 2012

Advent Meditations

Luke 1:36-37

And behold, thy cousin, Elisabeth,

hath also conceived a son in her old age;

and this is the sixth month with her,

who was called barren.

For with GOD

nothing shall be impossible.

Unexpected comfort is given to the Obedient Servant of GOD, the Hebrew virgin Mariam.  Although being found with child out of wedlock would bring a certain and sure condemnation from others, The LORD planned a way to comfort the Obedient One, confirming His+ Word to Mariam. 

Herein is a lesson for us: No matter how bitter the obedience, The LORD will always send a confirmation to those obeying him.

How sweet that confirmation is in the midst of cross-carrying!

As the Obedient Servant commits his / her life unto the Hand of The LORD, and rejoices,  then The LORD will send His+ Comforter to the suffering, Obedient Follower of His+ will.

And to him [ Gamaliel ] they agreed; and when they had called the Apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of JESUS, and let them go .

And they departed from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for HIS+ name.

And daily in the Temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach JESUS CHRIST. Acts 5: 40-42

Meditation

Gracious Heavenly FATHER Who maketh the bitterest obedience endurable, help me to embrace the bitter Way of The Cross.

As our SAVIOR embraced the bitter sting of death to open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers, help me to embrace Thy will when it involves sorrow, suffering, ignominy, and pain.

And, O FATHER, in The Name of Thy Suffering SON+ JESUS, help me to comfort those who mourn and suffer as the result of  preaching Thy Word, as the result of doing Thy Will.

Let me never, ever close my eyes to the suffering of my brothers and sisters who bear in their bodies the scars of the cross... the Cross THOU+ has brought for them to bear.

I thank THEE for allowing me in some small way join our SAVIOR in His+ suffering; I know at the appointed time, HE+ will wipe away all my tears. 

Glory to THEE+, LORD GOD of our fathers; THOU+ are worthy of praise. Glory to THEE+ !