Jesus Christ

Who are you occupied with?

Are you occupied with Jesus? Most Christians I know would answer in the affirmative, but the truth is; most of the times we are more occupied for Jesus and not occupied with Him. Being occupied with Jesus means spending quality time with Him in prayer–seeking His favor and direction; just like Mary, who sat at His feet attentively while He Ministered to her.

Once upon a time there were two sisters who loved the Lord more than anything else. One named Mary the other named Martha. Mary liked to worship and Martha liked to cook.

The Bible tells us in Luke 10:38-42 that one day: “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was busy in the kitchen preparing food. She became distracted and overwhelmed by all the preparations that had to be made. So she came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Clearly, Martha had her priorities mixed up. She missed the opportunity to occupy herself with the Lord, by choosing the kitchen instead. Believers, do not be like Martha, be like Mary, who had her priorities in order. There is a time for everything under the sun.

Martha in the kitchen, serving with her hands,

Occupied for Jesus with her pots and pans,

Loving him—yet fevered,

Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, c. 1597

Image via Wikipedia

Careful, troubled Martha,Burdened to the brim,

Occupied for Him.

Mary on the footstool, eyes upon the Lord,

Occupied with Jesus, drinking in His words,

This the one thing needful, all else strangely dim,

Loving resting Mary

Occupied with Him.

So may we like Mary choose the better part?

Resting in His presence, hands and feet and heart,

Strengthened with His grace,

Waiting for the summons,

Eyes upon His face.

When it comes, we’re ready,

Spirit, will and nerve—

Mary’s heart to worship,

Martha’s hands to serve.

This the rightful order, as our lamps we trim:

Occupied with Jesus—

Then occupied for Him.

The Angel ‘Gabriel’ Foretold Jesus’ Birth

Gabriel broke the good news to Mary

Mary, a virgin, was living in Galilee of Nazareth and she was engaged to Joseph, a Jewish carpenter. But before they came together, an angel named Gabriel, appeared to Mary and told her that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. Luke 1:30-31

At first Mary was afraid and troubled by the angel’s words. Being a virgin, Mary questioned the angel, “How will this be?” The angel explained that the child would be God’s own Son and, therefore, “nothing is impossible with God.” Humbled and in awe, Mary believed the angel of the Lord and rejoiced in God her Savior.

No doubt  Mary reflected with wonder on the words found in Isaiah 7:14 foretelling this event, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (NIV)

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

Joseph was not happy about the news. Fear and doubt overwhelmed him but he did not want to expose Mary to a public disgrace which was required by law–so he planned to divorce her quietly.  But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and he took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

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‘Tis The Season To Reflect On The Birth Of Jesus

Around 400 BC, the prophet Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would give birth to a male child: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

I imagine many people thought Isaiah was crazy. But four hundred years later, his prophecy fulfilled–the virgin Mary gave birth to baby Jesus, the savior of this sinful world.

The birth of Jesus: (Luke 2:1-14)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, 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 Savior 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 favor rests.”

Are you too proud to admit your faults?

Everyone makes mistakes. But there is an epidemic in the world today of people who can’t admit they did something wrong. God says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). But first we have to be sorry about what we’ve done.

according to God’s way of doing things, there are three steps to changing our behaviour.

  1. First there is confession, which is admitting what we did.
  2. Next there is repentance, which is being sorry about what we did.
  3. Then there is asking forgiveness which is being cleansed and released from what we did.

The inability or resistance to do any of these three steps is rooted in pride. A man who cannot humble himself to admit he is wrong before God and before man will have problems in his life that will never go away. “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 26:12–NIV).

Too many of us have fallen because of pride and the inability to confess and repent. Unconfessed sin does not just go away. It becomes a cancer that grows and suffocates life. “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsake them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). “God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Are you satisfied with your life?

Sometimes in our lives we all have pains, we all have sorrow. Sometimes our prayers help us to avoid them sometimes not. So, we become miserable and unhappy with our lives–that we start to play the blame game, which if not checked can make things more difficult.

However, most often than not, if we took the time to look around, we’ll see lots of people who are worse off than we are, and to our surprise, they are thankful and happy as a clown.

I have learnt that the happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Furthermore, until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have.

The apostle Paul to the Church in Philippi: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).