Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

When what to my wondering eyes should appear ...

Saturday, December 21, 2002

Luke 1:39-45
41) And it happened,
when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary,
that the babe leaped in her womb;
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42) Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said,
"Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!
43) But why is this granted to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

Do some of us experience miracles while the rest of us do not? ESPN Classic will show 35 hours of miracle finishes, football, basketball, baseball, starting on Christmas Eve. Christmas marks the miracle made for all of us, and somebody in Bristol, CT (ESPN's headquarters) recognizes that.

Elizabeth and her baby felt-saw-knew Jesus-God was suddenly with them. Most of us get only a few moments like that in our lifetimes, when the heavens open and we see God clearly.

Like the lucky dad on the night before Christmas who saw St. Nick, our eyes get wide and we soak up every detail, never to forget. And of course, there are miracles for you while I'm just a pedestrian, walking normally along. And perhaps there will be a miracle for me while you are sleeping. God knows us each, loves us each; we are his children individual, separate, loved for ourselves. He speaks to us alone sometimes.

But Jesus' birth is a miracle for all of us: God coming to earth, putting on our form, living out a life, taking on our pain, our sickness, our sin. No one loses while the other wins, but this is for us all ... as Charles Dickens said in the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one!"

Lord, you are coming to us, and we greet you with wonder and awe. If our eyes are shut, open them wide.

Devotions Archive

When what to my wondering eyes should appear ...

Saturday, December 21, 2002