| In The Presence Of Jesus | More
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| It
must have been a fearful, frightening time for Mary. It was her very
first delivery and it was God's own Son as she knew so very well.
She recalled the day of conception -the awesome visit of Gabriel.
Nine months had not erased any part of that vivid, blessed meeting.
Now the time had come. The pains so real. But where would she give birth? They had arrived in Bethlehem, no bigger than Nazareth, but the place was teeming with descendants of David just like themselves. She must have urged Joseph on to find a place -even just to lie down in this condition. |
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he stable they found must have been dirty. Joseph hurriedly removed animal excretions and cob webs from the wall. He, somehow, perhaps in a corner, made a bed of hay. What a relief to lie down as the pains increased. But they were all alone. There was no mid-wife near, no mother, no relative, not even Elizabeth, no one who had experienced delivery before. Can we conceive her anxiety? What do we do next? What should we expect? | ||
| One
of my students in Africa delivered her own baby out in the open field
while gathering fire wood. she came back with the new baby on her
back and wood on her head. But this wasn't her first delivery.
Mary and Joseph were alone that day. Circumstances were so unwanted, but God Himself in visible form was there! Could anything go a miss? Then having given birth she wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes, long, narrow bands of cloth, after the manner of their day, tightly round the whole body confining both legs and arms. She laid Him in a manger on soft hay.
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Alone at a time
of deep need! Have you been there? No one could take Mary's place,
and we, likewise, are often caught there, too. Alone? Not
really! That's when the conscious invisible presence of that same
Jesus can be so real. Call upon Him in faith and He draws near.
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| Often
these days, as I drive up to the house, I have the over-coming feeling of
being alone. But I don't need to be overcome with fear or dread. I
find companionship in the Word, becoming en-grossed in it, I realize I'm
really not alone. I have the conscious presence of my Lord, even as
Mary. Have you found refuge in Him, too?
Yours in Christ, June Wiebe
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