Mary, did you know?

"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." Luke 2:7

Over 16 years ago, my firstborn, a son, came into this world. I don't recall ever having felt a love that strong for anyone or anything before the day they placed him in my arms. Life changed the moment I held him... and so it must have been for Mary more than 2.000 years ago when "she gave birth to her firstborn, a son." Only 10 months earlier, she was a young virgin engaged to be married - probably busying herself with wedding plans and dreams of the future. And then Gabriel came to visit, "The angel told her,“Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God.You will become pregnant, give birth to a son,and name him Jesus. He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever,and his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:26-38

Can you imagine all the plans she had for Him? The dreams of who he would be, what he would be like, the color of his eyes? Yes... she knew he was special and that he would be the "Son of the Most High" but for now he was her son, her precious baby. With a mother's love, she would allow herself to think only pleasant thoughts. Luke 2:19 tells us that, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Could she have possibly known how her son, the Son of God, the beautiful baby that rested in her arms that first Christmas morning, would one day die a sinners death on a cross to save you and me from our sins?

This Christmas, take the time to treasure up all these things and ponder them in your heart. Jesus left his throne to be born in a stable and placed in a manger made of wood. He would later be placed on a cross made of wood to fulfill the purpose for which he was born. Mary, did you know?

Heavenly Father, thank you for this glorious Christmas day. Thank you for the gift of salvation and eternal life provided through the baby Jesus born in a stable over 2,000 years ago. There could be no greater love or greater King that would leave his throne to endure the suffering and hardship required to be the ultimate sacrifice. May we ponder these things in our heart today and the whole year through as we celebrate the greatest birth day of all time. Merry Christmas and may God bless each of you. It's in your most precious name we pray these things King Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!

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Mary did you know? - Pentatonix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE