Thursday, December 21
Day 25-A Beautiful Response
Luke 1:26-45

A few months after Elizabeth discovers that she is pregnant, God once again sends the angel Gabriel to deliver an even more important message, this time to a young teenage girl named Mary. Luke shares the details that she is a virgin and that she is engaged to a man named Joseph a descendent of King David (which is an important detail as we will see on Friday). As Mary is a simple peasant girl, the angel shocks her with his greeting…

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. Luke 2:28-29 NIV
To be visited by an angel would be terrifying enough, but to be called “high favored” must have been overwhelming. The angel shared his message with a wide-eyed Mary…
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:31-33 NIV
Though she was young, she understood the implications of this message. Her question for the angel is a simple one.
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:34 NIV
Unlike with Zechariah who was punished for questioning Gabriel, Mary receives a gentle encouraging response.
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:35-37 NIV
While Mary carries the Messiah in her womb, she won’t have to walk this journey alone. Elizabeth, who is also pregnant with a miraculous child. will be an encouragement for her. Mary’s response shows the simplicity of her beautiful faith…
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:38 NIV

Mary must have quietly sat in shock as the words of the angel lingered in the air. While her mind must have been racing with concerns and questions, perhaps she simply sat for a while and pondered the beautiful message from the angel and dreamed of what this all would mean.

Prayer Emphasis: Ask God to help you have beautiful obedient faith like Mary who is willing to surrender her life to be the mother of Jesus.

For Family Discussion…
Why do you think that Mary didn’t object to being chosen to be the mother Jesus? After all, she was engaged and most likely had her future with Joseph already planned out. Being the mother of Jesus would change everything.

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