The Advent Message

The Advent Season is coming to its' end in a few days. Yet, we are always living in the promise of Christ's return at anytime. And in that light, we are looking to prepare ourselves to live as children of the One who loves all people equally and follow God's teachings as true believers in loving obedience. Do the words loving and obedience seem incompatible to you? Or, do they flock together like birds of a feather?

The word loving by itself is good, but when paired with obedience, it can become a trigger word. Meaning, a word that initiates a process or course of action. For some people the word obedience might bring back feelings of fear and oppression from their past. For others, it may remind them of the security and safety of knowing what's expected of them or the group they are living or working with.

God only wants us to believe out of our free will, not domination. Even so, there is a distinct element of obedience that is natural as a believer in and a disciple of God's word and Christ's example. But with God, love is always the major part of any thought, word, or act of obedience. That's where Mary, the mother of Jesus, comes in from Luke 1:39-45. Luke wrote about an encounter that Mary, pregnant with Jesus, had while visiting with her cousin Elizabeth, whose was also pregnant with John the Baptizer.

Elizabeth shouted to Mary, "God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry. Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" If you read the background verses 1-38, you'll understand better why love and obedience is an essential part of being a believer and a disciple of God. And, find out how Mary discovered she would be Jesus' mother and under what special circumstances that would happen.