Ordinary People – Impregnated by the Holy Spirit

God loves to work through regular ordinary people.  In fact, ordinary people seem to be most often singled out by God for the most extra-ordinary purposes.

And that’s what I love so much about the saga of Christ’s advent and birth.  All the major players are so very ordinary.  Who would you have picked for Jesus’ earthly father?  How about Joseph, a carpenter from a small rural village?

And where would you send the greatest birth announcement in all of human history?  Well, God has it “air-mailed” by way of angels to shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem.  Brothers and sisters, you won’t find a more lowly, “under the social radar” group than shepherds.

And then there’s Mary, young, most likely a young teenager.  She possessed no previous mothering experience.  She had received no formal training or schooling.  Her resume’ and list of credentials were noticeably blank, that is, she had none.  All except for one critical factor…  she was willing.

Did you know that Mary was not the only one impregnated by the Holy Spirit?  All New Testament believers are impregnated by the Holy Spirit!  That’s right.  And just as Christ grew in Mary, the mother of God, until He had to come out on Christmas day, Christ will grow in you and I until the same thing occurs, until He comes out.

He will come out in our words, in our deeds, and in our actions.  Every day we live can be a Christmas.  You and I, ordinary people, just like Mary can deliver Christ into the world.

Oswald Chambers writes, “What was true of the Virgin Mary in the history of the Son of God’s birth on earth is true of every saint.  God’s Son is born into us through the direct act of the Holy Spirit.”

Now please hear this, God was with Abraham, God was with David, and God was with Peter and the Apostles while He was here on earth.  However, God is not just with us today, He is in us to live His life through us.  Christianity is not a self-improvement it is a self-replacement.  Christ in us, the hope of glory!

How about ordinary people like you and me?  Are we willing to be used by God as His body, temple, and instruments of His righteousness?  As we celebrate the birth of Christ this December, remember why He came.  He came to bring salvation to all men.  Jesus died for us, to give His life to us, to live His life through us.  Are we willing to be used by God by offering Him our bodies as ORDINARY PEOPLE – IMPREGNATED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT for His purpose and glory?  That’s God’s plan.  Well Amen!

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If you haven’t already, please consider a year-end gift.  This ministry fails to exist without the love and support of our partners in ministry, like you.  I echo Paul’s thoughts in Philippians 1:3-5, “I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…”

On behalf of Growing in Grace Ministries, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.