LUKE’S CHRISTMAS GOSPEL OF JESUS: A 30-Day Christmas-Time Devotional.

Cause and Effect.

Luke 1: 48-49 (MsgB) 

[48] “God took one good look at me, and look what happened— I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, [49] the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.”

Cause and effect.

As one author explains: A ‘cause’ is something that makes something else happen. An ‘effect’ is what happens as a result of that cause.

For example, during the Christmas season, if I eat too many holiday goodies and do not exercise, I gain weight. In this case, eating goodies without exercising is the ‘cause;’ while weight gain is the ‘effect.’

In today’s advent scripture, we find an amazing example of Christmas-time ‘cause and effect’ as it influences the life of one young maiden living a normal life in first-century Israel.

In Mary’s case, the ‘cause’ is the Holy God of the Universe taking one good look at her. The ‘effect’ is the blessing and honor in immeasurable ways that comes to not only Mary, but to our entire world.

God, you see, is so big that it’s impossible for Him to do something small or insignificant.  For Him, massive ‘cause and effect’ is just another day at the office!

If there’s one consistent lesson found throughout the pages of the Bible, it’s this:

When we insert God into any typically average situation in life, preferring His wisdom over ours, suddenly we now have countless new possibilities (or effects), which weren’t available prior to the inclusion of God and His powerful presence. For those who like charts and formulas, it kinda looks like this:

MAN + EARTHLY WISDOM = PREDICTABLE & LIMITED SOLUTIONS.

Now, look at the results of this same formula when God’s wisdom replaces our limited human perspective.

MAN + GOD’S POWERFUL PRESENCE = UNLIMITED, EXPANSIVE SOLUTIONS.

So, consider what great blessings (effect) might occur in our lives as we would position ourselves, like Mary, allowing God to take one good look at us (cause)?

My guess is that as we allow God to bring more of His power and presence into our lives (cause), you and I will never regret the wonderful by-products of all God does in and through our common, everyday lives (effect).

My prayer: Thank You, Lord, that Your small touch can bring large, powerful, long-lasting blessing to our common, everyday lives. Help me to realize that one look from You can change everything. One touch from Your hand can heal and save. One word from Your mouth can speak volumes. May I be open today to Your in-breaking presence, radically transforming my life, for Your name’s sake. Amen.

My questions to ponder: So, how have I under-estimated the powerful magnitude of God’s in-breaking presence in my life? Have I made God too small in my mind, reducing His sovereign ability to transform my life in seemingly small yet very significant ways?

So what is God speaking to you today? Are you practicing the Kingdom presence of God?

We hope you’ll enjoy these 30 blogs that walk you through 30 days of Advent (Nov 26 – Dec 25). Here’s the homepage for the entire series.

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