"Blessed is she
who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told
her from the Lord." (Luke 1:45 NKJ)
It is amazing how
many times the New Testament relates something about Christ fulfilling
prophecy. There are 14 such explanations in Matthew's Gospel alone. Every
instance of fulfillment reminds us that God's word is true. God has a purpose
and it will be achieved.
So, the Christmas
story wasn't merely so we could feel warm and fuzzy all over. It wasn't so we
would meet Joseph and Mary, a godly couple. It wasn't to announce that babies
could be born in a stable. And it wasn't so Dr. Luke would have great
characters and a marvelous plot for an inspiring story.
Beginning with John
the Baptist (Matthew 11:13), Old Testament prophecies began to be accomplished
and verified. Some prophecies foretold of the birth of God's Anointed. Some
prophecies counted the years until he would be born. Some prophecies counted the
years until his death. And some prophecies foretold of events during those
"in between" years. And still other prophecies foretold of
cataclysmic events that will occur before the end of time.
But when the
Resurrected Christ was providing proof of his resurrected reality to his
faithful Apostles, he said, "These are the words which I spoke to you
while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were
written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me"
(Luke 24:44 NKJ).
"All things
must be fulfilled." And I ask myself: why is it necessary for the
prophecies about Christ, written in the Mosaic law, the Prophets, and the
Psalms, to be fulfilled? I do not think it is merely to prove God's veracity,
although that is certainly a sufficient reason. Rather, it seems that Elizabeth
has hit upon it in her greetings to Mary.
Elizabeth said,
"Blessed is she who believed." Faith is the substance of our hope and
our faith is proven real by the evidence of our actions (Hebrews 11:1). I am
confident that God's word is true and will, without fail, be fulfilled to the
last phrase and syllable. Yet, my actions each day show whether I truly believe
that "those things which were told (me ) from the Lord" will be
fulfilled. Of course, they will be fulfilled whether I believe them or not.
Dear Father, thank
you for telling us your marvelous story. Empower us with faith and action to
always be ready for the fulfillment of your promises. I pray this in the name
of Jesus. AMEN
Today let God's word
be fulfilled in you,
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