The other morning I awoke with the theme of "Thy Kingdom come" on my mind. Jesus asked us to pray that His Kingdom would come to this earth. But how does that happen?? Is it just a 'suddenly' when the Lord returns...or is there something unseen going on right now?
In Luke 1:38 young Mary has an encounter with an angelic messenger who told the startled girl, "Don't be afraid." After hearing what the messenger said Mary responded with an amazing statement! "Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Be it unto me according to Your Word." This after hearing that she would bear a Son by the Holy Spirit...before being married!
Think about the mindset she had...that of a completely surrendered 'maidservant'...basically a slave to HIM.
And what did this birth cost her? The young man she loved was going to reject her. Her reputation would be questionable in that village and among her extended family for the rest of her life! She would be suspect and misunderstood. When she brought the baby to the temple an aged man called Simeon prophesied that "a sword would pierce her heart." And indeed we can only imagine her pain as she stood at the foot of the cross and watched her beloved Son die! Yes, we've read the whole story and know she would see Him resurrected, but she had to walk through the whole process BEFORE seeing it.
BUT consider, muse on this...in surrendering to this whole process of HIS birth and in loving Him, did she not bring forth the Kingdom?!
Now let's shift gears and go to Genesis 35 where Rachel. so many many years before, is travailing in birth with her last son, Benjamin. Listen to what the midwife told her as she was dying, "Do not fear, you will have this son also." As the mother breathed her last she named him, 'Ben-omi which means 'son of my sorrow'...and indeed he was; BUT...what did his father, Jacob call him? 'Benjamin' which means 'son of the right hand.' Have you ever considered what a picture, a foreshadowing this was. of the Messiah Who would later come, live through the whole process of human life; die and then be resurrected now to sit at the Father's right hand?!
When we bring forth something of the Christ life we, like Rachel, may experience travailing sorrow, even a type of death BUT in doing so, we also are granted the privilege of producing something Divine...something of the Kingdom which one day will be completely manifested on this earth. In those times of our lives we may need a faithful midwife, telling us not to fear...not to shrink back! We can have this experience of Christ also...and it will be worth everything!!!
Let's now go to Exodus 1 where midwives were helping the women of God with their births in Egypt. These ladies are actually named in the holy Scriptures! Shiphrah which means 'splendid, royal canopy' and Puah which means 'brilliant, glitter.' I'm pretty sure that is how God sees those who assist people of God in their 'transition' moments of bringing forth more of Christ in their lives! They were told by the then world ruler (who is not worthy to have his name recorded by God here) that they were "if a son, kill him." Scripture says, "But the midwives feared God...didn't do as the king of Egypt commanded but saved the male children alive."
When confronted by the ruler they said " the Hebrew women are 'chayah'-lively, revived, quickened- so didn't need them for the birth. As a result of their faithfulness Scripture says, "Therefore God dealt well with 'them'...He provided households for them because they feared Him." "And the people multiplied and grew very mighty."
Precious believers, can we "settle it in our hearts" that we will not shrink back in our travailing moments? Are we willing to assist those who are in 'heavy labor' around us? I am convinced that by doing so...one by one; and trial by trial in this way His Kingdom is coming!!
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