Grace to the humble: A call to prayer
“Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.” (Eccl 9:11)
What was so special about the honoured people around baby Jesus? Was anything extraordinary about Mary? Or Elizabeth, Joseph or Simeon? Someone may point to moral traits of purity (Mary was a virgin), or righteousness (as Joseph) or priestly placement (Elizabeth was wife to the priest Zechariah), or royalty (both Mary and Joseph were from the royal clan of Judah) – but all these characteristics have existed in many other people before and after. I am not out to belittle these servants of God, but there have been many others almost more deserving! So, why did God choose these, and why did he send His Son to earth at that time? Jesus later rubbed in the question by telling his disciples, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.’ (Luke 10:24)
The Preacher before Jesus time said ‘time and chance happen the them all’, and Jesus said ‘Blessed are they’: there seems to be no perfect formula! God’s choice is ultimate, and as He chose the people around baby Jesus for that special task, so has He chosen us for assignments today, and we do well to take them seriously. It was by God’s grace that Mary became the mother of Jesus Christ; by grace the shepherds heard the news of the Saviour baby, by grace the gentiles saw the bright prophetic star, and by grace Simeon was present at the Temple to hold in his hands and greet baby Jesus.
In the book ‘Remaking a broken world’ by Christopher Ash, ‘the judgment of God leads to scattering and He shows his grace and faithfulness by gathering’. The grace and blessedness depicted by gathering is evident in the work of the Messiah as prophesied by Simeon. In his thanksgiving, Simeon called baby Jesus ‘salvation that you [God] have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.’ (Luke 2:30-31). To both Gentiles and Jews God’s salvation has come – the means of God’s grace.
Humility is important to the healing and salvation of our world: Mary humbly received favour and accepted to be used of the Almighty God, while Elizabeth was also humble enough to call the baby in Mary’s womb ‘My Lord’; Simeon gave thanks and worshipped the Lord when he saw Jesus. We can only receive Jesus Christ today as our Saviour when we look at our needy state, humble ourselves and draw near to Him in earnest prayer. Are you frightened by world powers? Or by a celestial revelation? Or by the imminent new year season? Do not be afraid; just humble yourself and call upon God; receive His will, receive His salvation plan, receive your Saviour.
God bless you all.