"What is it Merriam? "
"You know that girl down the way - the one called Mary? She is growing large, and she claimed to be a Virgin! So much for the truth of which she often spoke!"
"And that Joseph. He is not what he claims to be! How dare him. He goes to synagogue and acts so righteous. Then this happens!" replied Jehu.
Rastus, overhearing the conversation speaks his piece saying, "Don't judge them harshly. Maybe it is not what it seems to be. Perhaps Mary has just gained some weight."
Merriam giggled. "That's a laugh, Rastus. You're always siding with everybody but me."
"I'm just giving Joseph the benefit of the doubt, and Mary seems so pure. She is dedicated to God in all things, and I've never heard of her doing anything wrong."
Jehu said, "... but anyone can fail. We all have passions. Perhaps Satan deceived her."
Gabriel could not contain himself, hearing this conversation in seclusion. He stepped forth, appearing as a man. Let me tell the story:
Luke 1:26-38 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.Gabriel reproved them saying, "You know it's wrong to gossip yet you gossip. Mary never did and Jesus never will. You have belittled the Name of God for he will be called Jesus. You have besmirched the reputation of the purest woman ever to live. And as for Joseph, he knows the child is not his but that the unborn baby belongs to God. Even in the womb this child is King. He will have the power to save even you three who gossip so freely today. You take God's Name in vain, and the Law is that you not. Who today is frivolous to you, to him kings will someday bow."
Giggling Merriam no longer giggled as she reasons: "But this is impossible. For one to conceive there must be pleasure. Surely you are wrong because it just cannot be. The midwives say that there must be pleasure for that to happen, yet you expect me to believe the impossible?"
All to which Gabriel replied, "With God, I repeat... all things are possible. Did not God create the heavens and the world? Did not God form man from clay? If he can work miracles from the world, he can work miracles with His Spirit. This unborn baby is as much Spirit as clay, and he is as much God as Man. It seems that your faith in God is limited to what you see, and soon you shall see the miracle of which you gossip this day."
"I'm almost convinced," said Rastus.
"Nearly so," added Jehu.
Gabriel spoke more: "Nearly convinced is not enough. God always existed without ever being born. Now he is conceived so that He can experience what you have experienced, and then die for being the Son of Man. When you come to accept the Son of God for who He Is, and what He can do, His birth means that you will be born again - the right way - of the Spirit just as Jesus will shortly be. You cannot be nearly reborn. You can only be fully reborn. Hence, nearly convinced is not even partial birth. You must be fully convinced!"
"But," Merrian retorted, to fully believe I need a miracle for I am a Jewess."
Gabriel shook his head and smiled, "The Greatest Miracle in history is in the making today. You must believe in this miracle - that God is in the process of being born of a virgin and of God. That is the same miracle as Adam experienced since he was born of virgin dust and of the Spirit of God. This upcoming birth is the greatest story ever told, and it's telling starts today."
Jehu finally understood! "With God, indeed all things are possible. I believe what you say, Gabriel."
Merriam, feeling a little more convinced, and embarrassed at her gossip, made her excuses: "But you understand why I accused Mary. She cannot be without sin. Nobody is. So I just thought...."
Gabriel stopped her with a wave of his hand. "Your thoughts are not God's thoughts. He isn't limited to your weak thinking. God is Almighty. He can do His will with power."
Merriam thought to herself, "I'm getting nowhere with logic with Gabriel. He just doesn't understand God's limitations. He can only do what we believe he can do." She walked off still believing the Messiah will come, but denying that He was already on the way.
- - - - -
Many people in this modern age celebrate the birth of Jesus but fail to accept His Christmas Gift. His conception seems mythological, and they readily celebrate the myth. However, right now they too can be conceived of the Spirit, and reborn with just the thought, Jesus was conceived to bear my sins, he is Christ's gift for me, and God gave His only Son for my sake. Lord God, I accept your gift.
What keeps people from being conceived by the Spirit? Their own confused thinking! They designate more power to their own mind, than to the Mind which Created. They have become as gods! Eternal life is as near as believing what is true for "the truth will set you free". You have your Gift! Quit expecting material things because the Real Gift is already at the Superstore - He knocks at your door; open the door and the Gift is there, all packaged and ready to lift up!
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