The Revelation

Luke 1:39-43 – At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (NIV)

Our well water, though abundant and clear, is full of minerals which leave a scaly, cloudy, or yellowish film on everything. I am forever wiping and cleaning to keep ahead of the build-up. One of the cleaners that I find most helpful with this task is CLR®, a product which removes calcium, lime, and rust, revealing the original surface below.

The other week as I was using my bottle of CLR, the words "Christmas Love Revealed" leapt into my mind. Perhaps it was because I was also thinking of the story of Elizabeth and Mary and how the babe leapt within Elizabeth, and Elizabeth herself recognized the child whom Mary carried: Emmanuel — God with us.

What an incredible revelation for Elizabeth: Christmas Love Revealed. Even the first time around, the festival of Christ's birth began well before the birth itself. How amazing that Elizabeth and Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, still within his mother's womb, recognized God's greatest gift of love to mankind before the world ever set eyes upon the Baby born in a Bethlehem manger.

Today, you and I are in a similar situation. We have not seen Jesus in the flesh either. We have seen paintings and statues and etchings. We have heard the old, old story of His birth over and over. We have seen it re-enacted and maybe even been part of the Christmas pageant itself, but none of us has ever seen Him in the flesh, and yet, Christmas Love Revealed has been revealed in us. How absolutely amazing! God, in His great mercy and love, has opened our hearts and eyes to the truth of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. Now isn't that something to make our hearts leap with joy within us and proclaim glory to God as we celebrate this festive season!

Prayer: We praise You that through faith, Emmanuel, God with us, is as real to us as He was to those with whom He walked so long ago. May the power of His love within us bring Christmas Love Revealed to those who most need it this Advent season. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.

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