I’m sitting at the farm table, the family is gathering, fairy lights twinkle, baubles shine, love birds are chattering outside and the clouds are hanging heavy and full. Beneath three metal hanging angels, a wooden board rests against the wall: FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN – Isaiah 9 v 6. These words mean everything. Our hearts are glad.
Jesus came to save.
Luke 19 v 10: For the Son of Man came to seek and save the Lost.
When we welcome the child, we inherit the gift he or she brings into the world.
In Matthew 2 we read that whilst wise men were bowing down, worshipping and presenting treasure to Jesus, Herod was out to kill him, even to the point of killing all the baby boys just to be sure. Same event, different responses.
It’s disturbing that our nation, at this very time, is working on legalising abortion. What has come over us? Our culture is well known for calling children a blessing. Are we trying to do this in the name of progress, all the while going backwards to our downfall?
Herod saw a baby he could obliterate, but his murderous heart was outwitted. God watched over His holy seed as He worked on creating the Saviour of the World. There was a destiny to fulfil and the life of God’s Son meant life for us all.
What are we doing about human seed? We control and plan and sometimes sow ‘by mistake’ and then we decide that some will be weeds that we have a right to pull up and burn. No farmer in his right mind would rip some of the corn out before harvest.
God have mercy on us.
Isaiah 45 v 9 – 11: ‘Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker…Woe to the one who says to a father, “What have you begotten?” or to a mother, “What have you brought to birth?” This is what the Lord says – the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it.’
In some instances it might seem that the drama will be over when the baby disappears, but won’t that be when the mental break down begins? Is it not only in the days to follow that the grief stricken hearts will carry the heavy weight of agony, regret and sorrow. Blood on the hands that cradle the suddenly empty womb. There must be another way.
Dare I say it, perhaps the best thing that ever happens in the most broken situations is a baby. It’s how we react, respond and move forward that counts. It is believing that children are a divine gift and not an inconvenience at best, a curse at worst. I have heard it said that people are the world’s greatest resource. What do we forfeit when we don’t wait around long enough for the harvest?
One of our sons did not come from my womb. A torrent of heartache and pain surrounded his birth, and had this abortion law been approved, he might not be alive today. Our priceless little boy might have been ripped from the womb too soon, his little mouth gasping for air that his lungs were unable to handle. But he was carried full term and we were waiting for, precisely, him. A long line of people said ‘yes’ over our boy and the world is richer for it. Nobody else could have been so perfectly created for our particular family or community. We are living proof that God is writing good stories out of, seemingly, hopeless situations. None of it was orchestrated by us and yet we have witnessed, first hand, a series of rescues and experienced a sense of awe that is difficult to describe.
In our ignorance and fear, do we join in with Herod and do away with Jesus? Do we reject the baby and fail to receive the Gift of Life He brings?
When Jesus was a man, and His disciples were trying to make the children disappear, He said, “Let the little children come to me!” (Matthew 19 v 14)May the same spirit be on us. When we welcome children we begin to realise that we too can run to the Father, with dependence and humility, child-like in our faith.
What is our response at this time? Has earth received her King? Like Mary’s faith-filled response as the angel tells her a child is on the way, we too can say, “Let it be unto me as You have said.” (Luke 1 v 38) Yes, it’s complicated, but we aren’t the ones in charge of the storyline. The One who is says that He is making everything beautiful in it’s time (Ecclesiastes 3 v 11.)
Luke 2 v 8 – 14
And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”
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