There’s a lot of weirdos around isn’t there?  A lot of strange looking people who reckon they’ve heard from God.  A lot of unlikely folk who claim to have God’s Twitter address and that God DM’s them direct with information.

When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple as was required they ran into two unusual people.

The first was Simeon, an old guy who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.  He praises God effusively when he sees the baby Jesus.

The second was Anna who was a prophetess, a widow, and also very old.  She stayed in the temple and worshipped day and night.

Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Remember this was in a culture and at a time when women were not even allowed in the same parts of the temple as the men for worshipping.  This was the same culture that prompted Paul to tell the Corinthian church that women shouldn’t speak in church.  This was a culture where the law courts wouldn’t accept testimony from a woman.

Yet people were obviously willing to listen to Anna about the Messiah and the redemption of Jerusalem.

And of course to make matters even more interesting, when John the Baptist started spreading the word of Jesus Christ he wandered around in strange clothes eating nothing but locusts and honey.

Two very important points

1. Don’t presume that a word doesn’t come from God because the messenger isn’t who you would choose to deliver it.
2. Check their message doesn’t contradict Scripture.  Simeon’s, Anna’s and John the Baptist’s messages were in complete agreement with Scripture.

Photo credit: brymo

How good are we at accepting people who are not what we expected?

Good News/Bad News

How gracious are we when people rain on our good news parade with their better news?

If you and your spouse had been told you couldn’t have a baby and then at last you found out you had managed to get pregnant, how would you feel?  Then, in the middle of the celebrations, your niece shows up at the door to announce she’s pregnant, unmarried, and the baby isn’t her fiance’s.

Would your ego get in the way because it spoils your day?

Would you start by telling her what a stupid, irresponsible child she has been?

How Should We React

Or would you react the way Elizabeth did in Luke 1 when Mary showed up at her door unmarried, pregnant and claiming the child was God’s?

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴²In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!”
Luke 1:41-42

Son

When your son comes into the room and announces he’s going to be an artist when you had him pegged as a doctor – remember Elizabeth.

Daughter

When your daughter shows up with a dullard who she obviously loves immensely – remember Elizabeth.

At Work

When an employee comes into office to proudly show you how she has achieved a task (obviously not how you would have done it) – remember Elizabeth.

And at Church?

And possibly most importantly.  When someone who doesn’t fit, someone with troubles, someone who looks different from you, walks into your church and sits in your seat – remember Elizabeth, sit down next to them and welcome them with open arms.

Photo credit: alancleaver

There has been a lot of fuss in New Zealand lately about a stupid billboard put up by a liberal church designed to get people to think about the virgin birth.  The problem wasn’t that it was challenging but that it was offensive, and unnecessarily so.  The church involved would do well to consider just what message they are trying to get across.

At the same time, those who call themselves Christians but saw fit to break the law and deface the billboard needed to rethink their actions as well.

Maybe they, and we, could look to Mary for guidance on how to respond to both unlikely situations and circumstances that are bound to bring conflict and derision.

In Luke 1 and angel visits Mary and lets her know that she’s going to have a child.  The child is going to be conceived before she is married.  The father isn’t going to be her betrothed and her child is going to be the son of God!  The angel then finishes are by telling her that nothing is impossible for God.

For nothing is impossible with God.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

There is an interesting concept in the printing of books called “white space”.  When we type of computer we put two new lines in to represent a new paragraph.  But when it is typeset, the printer uses “white space” instead.

Sometimes in the Bible the most interesting things are found in the “white space”.  This is one of those times.

In the white space between the angel speaking and Mary saying, “I’ll do it” there is a time of thought, faith and courage that we could all use as we head into 2010.

Photo credit: alexeggert