May the mumbling commence!
How do we encourage our spiritual leaders? Our spiritual ancestors started a tradition long ago of the laying on of hands. Read from Numbers chapter eight:
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean. Do this by sprinkling them with the water of purification. And have them shave their entire body and wash their clothing. Then they will be ceremonially clean. Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour mixed with olive oil, along with a second young bull for a sin offering. Then assemble the whole community of Israel and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle. When you bring the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them. Aaron must present the Levites to the Lord as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the Lord's service. (Verses 5-11)
What a wonderful way of encouraging and recognizing our spiritual leaders! Dedicate them to the Lord. Lay hands on them. Pray for them. Recognize the service they provide for our relationship with the Lord.
Oh, to be touched by God! It is both and fearful and wonderful experience. That was the experience of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Read from Luke chapter one:
In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!"
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. "Don't be frightened, Mary," the angel told her, "for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!"
Mary asked the angel, "But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin."
The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she's already in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true." And then the angel left. (Verses 26-38)
Dazed and confused. Mary was disturbed by the visit of the angel of the Lord. The words of the angel did not quell her fear. How could Mary bear a son when she has never been with a man?
We may have our reasons to doubt the Lord, too. We may see obstacles that seem insurmountable. But these obstacles are nothing to the Lord. Nothing is impossible with God.
Then we must be humbled as Mary was and remember our status as servants of the Lord. I am willing to write a blank check for God… whatever my Lord wants. May it come true. So be it. Amen.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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