I love the Christmas story! It never gets old. I have fond memories of my Granny reading the Christmas narrative every year. We gathered at her house on Christmas Eve. A huge family in a tiny house with oodles of food and lots of boisterous people. But there was one moment each year, just before we opened the presents, where we would congregate in front of the Christmas tree and everyone would get silent for Granny to share the Christmas story. Then all hell broke loose! Presents were distributed, wrapping paper flew everywhere, and Christmas was over. But not really, because the Christmas story is never over.
The Christmas story is literally crammed full of powerful lessons. I encourage you in the days leading up to Christmas to spend time reading the Christmas story (Matthew 1:1 – 2:23, Luke 1:1 – 2:40, John 1:1 – 18). Quiet yourself and everything around you, read through the narrative, and let God teach you some of the compelling lessons. During the next few weeks, I’ll blog about some of those teachings. Here’s the first message:
YOU ARE NEVER TOO YOUNG OR TOO INEXPERIENCED TO BE USED BY GOD.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” Luke 1:26-28
Mary was pretty young. Scholars’ opinions range anywhere from 13 or 14 to 18 or 19 years old. Either way, that’s pretty young. She didn’t have a lot of life experience. In fact, she was single and was a virgin. She more than likely came from a poor family not having a lot of material goods. The point is this: God used Mary in a miraculous way even though she was young, inexperienced and poor. That’s God’s M.O. You are never too young or inexperienced to be used by God!
Don’t think you are too young. Don’t get fooled into believing your resume is lacking. Don’t thing your means are meager. Know that God wants to use you!
Ryan Smallwood
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