Surprise – It’s for ME!
Based on verse 4 of the hymn Where Shepherds Lately Knelt:
“Can I, will I forget how Love was born, and burned its way into my heart—unasked, unforced, unearned, to die, to live, and not alone for me, to die, to live, and not alone for me?”
But how can I know all this is meant for me? I can understand how God could love Mr. or Mrs. Jones. Mr. or Mrs. Jones, they’re so good, they’re so kind, they’re so gentle, they’re always so unselfish and so loving, so honest. I can understand how God can love Mr. Jones or Mrs. Jones. But I know my head. And I know my heart. And I know the evil that’s in this head, and I know the evil that’s in this heart. How in the world could God possibly love someone like me? Every one of us thinks thoughts like that somewhere along the line. Maybe not to the extent that I just walked through, every one of us thinks those things. In a couple minutes we’re gonna read the birth account from Luke chapter two. When the shepherds are out in the fields and the angels come to them, I would encourage you to look for how many times the words you, to you, or for you occur. And every time it’s unnecessary. The angel could have just said, I bring good tidings of great joy. Instead, the angel says, I bring you good tidings of great joy. The angel could have just said, and this will be a sign that God will be a good child. Instead, the angel said, and this will be a sign you’ll find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger, but that’s not what the angel said. Instead, the angel said, and this will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger, and I missed one of them. But you get the point. It’s like the angel wants to just drive home the idea, for you, this is for you, this is for you. Yes, it’s for all, but understand this is for you. Because surprise of all, God has chosen to love you and me. What grace. Is there any wonder that Mary took these things and pondered them in her heart? I totally get why Mary took these things and pondered them in her heart. Because this was also for her. This was her savior that she had just given birth to. And as we ponder that the savior was born for you, that is the only perfect love that drives out fear and drives it out forever. Amen.
