Mary - The Weightiness of Christmas
The Glory of Christmas • Sermon • Submitted
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Kahvood - glory, weight
Kahvood - glory, weight
There are a lot of weights that we can try to carry but the weight of Christmas is not one that should try to carry.
Christmas can feel very heavy for many people.
Christmas can feel very heavy for many people.
The burden to impress
The burden to fit in
The burden to keep up
The burden to meet expectations
The need to make the experience match the “Christmas Spirit” - Hear people say: (1) It’s beginning to feel like Christmas; (2) I just don’t feel the “magic” of Christmas
Many people in this particular Christmas season are scared that Covid will rob them of the joys they associate with Christmas.
The self-described 31 week pregnant soccer mom “Mary” in our video sure felt the weight of an unexpected change of plans. Whatever dreams she had, they did not include diapers and college tuition at the same time.
Her life was radically altered, as she said in the video, “This baby disrupted some pretty amazing plans we had for our lives.”
I think the weightiness of Christmas is best demonstrated in the disruption it brings to what we thought was our best made plans.
Scripture is consistent that God has His own plans.
Scripture is consistent that God has His own plans.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
but just as it is written,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
God has a habit of sharing how He has plans for our lives that are radically different from our plans.
God has a habit of sharing how He has plans for our lives that are radically different from our plans.
Don’t be crushed by the idea that His plan is different than what you had planned for your life.
The Good Shepherd will lead you into the paths that He has for you if you will follow.
That is certainly what we saw in Mary.
READ LUKE 1:26-38 again.
She had two choices:
She had two choices:
Tarry and Worry
Tarry and Worry
Trust and Wait
Trust and Wait
As the weight of the circumstances and challenges of this season of her life came, God’s glory came into the world RIGHT ON TIME!
As the weight of the circumstances and challenges of this season of her life came, God’s glory came into the world RIGHT ON TIME!
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
God’s plan for such a young girl was weighty and glorious beyond all scales of human measurement.
Conceived by the Holy Spirit, the Son of God would grow in her womb, be held in her arms and entrusted to her care.
NO PRESSURE!
NO PRESSURE!
What kind of God would come up with a plan like that?
The kind who would also have a plan for your life, just like He does for the 31 week pregnant former soccer mom, expecting her 3rd child, in times like these.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Perhaps we should re-examine where the joy of Christmas is found and rediscover the Glory of Christmas together!
Perhaps God wants us to know that all of our plans are subject to change at the slightest nudge of His will.
Perhaps the weightiness of Christmas is that God is asking us to trust Him, like He asked Mary to trust Him.