Day 340: Giving, Providing, Defending

Luke 1:26-56; Ezekiel 34; Isaiah 58

Gabriel shows up to Mary to give her news of the child she is going to carry saying, "You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you." I find this very interesting because here is a crazy amazing angel talking about being blessed, not because he is there, but because God is. Then, while the news is the most important news EVER, it does mean that Mary is going to have struggles. She isn't married, is engaged, and is going to be pregnant. She technically should be stoned for that. And yet, this angel tells her she is blessed. I think it is a misconception that we common believe that blessings mean easy times--financial wealth, good health, career prosperity, etc. Instead, in this passage, we see that blessings mean God and his involvement in our lives (even if our lives end up being a little or a lot rough).

This whole passage in Ezekiel is really incredible. It begins by talking about how the shepherds that were supposed to be in charge of God's people (his sheep), were doing a terrible job, taking everything for themselves and not protecting their flock. It says specifically that these leaders have never protected the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the hurt, or looked for the lost. To me, this is a list of how leaders ought to care for their followers. Then it goes on to say that God will be the best shepherd. He will look after them, care for them, protect them, lead them into green fields, and rescue the lost. Someday he will appoint the ultimate Shepherd (Jesus) to do a perfect job at all of that. It is just a beautiful picture of how, even if those that are supposed to care for us dont, God will, he did, and he is.

Another awesome passage! And it is very much like the sheep one! This one talks about true religion: that we don't do religious stuff to be seen, noticed, respected. If we are going to act religious or obey God for those reasons, he wants nothing to do with us. The life we are to live, the religion God wants (that is referenced in James 1:27) is to remove the chains of prisoners, free the absued, feed the hungry, provide shelter for the homeless, and give clothes to the poor. That is our "religion." And if this seems questionable, look at the life of Jesus. Every other story is about him giving, providing, defending. Very rarely (if ever) does he say "look how awesome I am!" So what happens when we follow Jesus' example, when we take care of his flock, when we follow this true religion? Your "light will shine like the dawning sun, and you will quickly be healed...When you beg The Lord for help, he will answer, 'Here I am!'...your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun. The Lord will always guide you and provide good things to eat when you are in the desert...You will be known as a builder and repairer." WOW. Who wouldn't want that? That isn't why we do those things, for our own benefit, but not only would we be helping people and following Christ's example, but the hope, joy, and healing we gain because of it is hard to pass up too.