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Monday, Dec 14 - Pregnant With the Name<br />
Studying the Christmas story in Dr. Luke’s gospel, sent me to his other book, the Acts of the<br />
Holy Spirit, and in particular the life-changing, transformation of one named Saul (we know him<br />
better as the Apostle Paul). I loved the Lord's words God spoke to Ananias about Paul.<br />
Remember, Ananias was a little skittish when<br />
God came to him and asked him to go and lay<br />
hands on the man so that he might regain his<br />
sight. Rightly so, Ananias had heard much<br />
about Paul, the evil he had inflicted on God's<br />
saints, his brethren. Of course, God jumps all<br />
over Ananias for his doubt! (Duh, no! I'm just<br />
checking to make sure you're really<br />
reading…). God assures Ananias with these<br />
words, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of<br />
mine to carry my name before the Gentiles<br />
and kings and the children of Israel. I will show<br />
him how much he must suffer for the sake of<br />
my name (Acts 9: 12-16).<br />
The words spoken are interesting enough, but<br />
one word in particular is intriguing. It's the word<br />
"carry," which means "to bear" (as in a woman<br />
"bearing a child"). Paul's calling from the Lord:<br />
to be pregnant with the name of <strong>Jesus</strong>. Add to<br />
that this charge, too: as a woman would<br />
"suffer" in child-birth, Paul would suffer the<br />
pains of bearing the Name.<br />
I've often related my salvation transformation<br />
to Paul's. I know, that sounds a bit prideful.<br />
Believe me, I recognize mine wasn't on the<br />
magnitude of Paul's (and I hadn't been quite as evil), but my life, my desires, my behavior all<br />
changed overnight. Most of all, I believed the night of my salvation that God had placed a call on<br />
my life to "carry the name of the Lord" and to present Him in a way that others might KNOW<br />
HIM as I had come to know Him. That call is still vivid and clear. So, like Paul, my mission, our<br />
mission, as believers, is to "bear the name of <strong>Jesus</strong>" -<br />
Where's this going? All that background to say this: Like Mary I am called to bear the Savior, to<br />
bring Him forth for the people, this Savior of mankind. That led me to thinking back to Mary's<br />
response to her call: Mary's Magnificat. A call that important requires a proper response!<br />
Tomorrow: MY MAGNIFICAT!<br />
I'm wondering...have you ever written yours? What a great time of year to do so, don't you think!<br />
Advent is near!<br />
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