Unexpected messages

Unexpected messengers with an unexpected message usually have a tendency to make us nervous. Messages such as these are by nature are bad news.

I think we would all agree that by nature our tendency is to believe any messages that we do not expect have got to be something we do not want to hear.

Christmas, the birth of Jesus, is about an unexpected messenger with an unexpected message that creates an unexpected crisis that gives way to the most unexpected Gift ever given!

The unexpected messenger, Gabriel, is sent to two couples, Zachariah and his wife Elisabeth and Mary and Joseph, who are chosen to be recipients of miracle life! The unexpected messenger brought good news for both couples!

Mary could have taken the news as bad news because of what it potentially could have cost, her marriage to Joseph, her reputation, her future, her security but she saw this as good news because she knew it wasn’t just about her but it was about and for everyone!

“Let it be done to me according to your word” is Mary’s invitation for God the Father to birth new life within her that would change the world! The message had changed her!

Today, God the Father is looking for open hearts to birth the life of His Son in our hearts in a fresh new way through His Spirit! God’s intent has always been that Jesus His Son would be formed in our hearts completely! In every heart, Jew and Gentile, so that we would become culture changers as John the Baptist was and Jesus continues to be!

Not all unexpected messengers bring bad news! Today the messenger of God is God the Holy Spirit and He brings the good news of the Gospel! When we allow the good news of the Gospel to change us we become the messenger with the message!

I invite you to join me in saying as Mary said, “Let it be done according to your Word!”

Lord we are hungry and thirsty for more of Your life being lived through us! We are ready to live and love more radically like Jesus!