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4 December 2007
An Advent Special to mark the start of Advent
Word on the Web
Luke 1:26-38
During Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary.
The angel came to her and said, "Greetings! The Lord has blessed you and is with you." But Mary was very startled by what the angel said and wondered what this greeting might mean. The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace.
Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name 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 King David, his ancestor. He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end."
Mary said to the angel, "How will this happen since I am a virgin?"
The angel said to Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God. Now Elizabeth, your relative, is also pregnant with a son though she is very old. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant for six months. God can do anything!"
Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!" Then the angel went away.
What stands out to you most in this passage?
Many will point out the awesomeness of the prospect of a Holy Spirit conceived virgin pregnancy. And rightly so, it does jump off the page as a little unusual, but I want to focus on something else. Mary's willingness to do the Lord's will. After being told by the angel that she has been chosen to be the mother of the Son of God she enquires how this will happen and then simply says "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!". No concern for the fact that she will be shamed publicly for being pregnant outside of marriage. No concern for the burden being the Messiah's mother might bring. No thought for the plans she might have had for her own life. She simply lays it all aside and decides she'll do what God wants.
Are you ready to do the same? Are you in a place of trust in God where you can say, "Do what you will Lord"? If not then turn it over to God now. If so then why not reaffirm this trust.
Father, I pray that we might have servant hearts. That we might learn to trust you in everything. Lord I turn my life over to you, I seek your will and I'm waiting to do what pleases you. Amen
Written by Matt Grady of alternativity.org.uk
An Advent Special to mark the start of Advent
Word on the Web
Luke 1:26-38
During Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary.
The angel came to her and said, "Greetings! The Lord has blessed you and is with you." But Mary was very startled by what the angel said and wondered what this greeting might mean. The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace.
Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name 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 King David, his ancestor. He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end."
Mary said to the angel, "How will this happen since I am a virgin?"
The angel said to Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God. Now Elizabeth, your relative, is also pregnant with a son though she is very old. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant for six months. God can do anything!"
Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!" Then the angel went away.
What stands out to you most in this passage?
Many will point out the awesomeness of the prospect of a Holy Spirit conceived virgin pregnancy. And rightly so, it does jump off the page as a little unusual, but I want to focus on something else. Mary's willingness to do the Lord's will. After being told by the angel that she has been chosen to be the mother of the Son of God she enquires how this will happen and then simply says "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!". No concern for the fact that she will be shamed publicly for being pregnant outside of marriage. No concern for the burden being the Messiah's mother might bring. No thought for the plans she might have had for her own life. She simply lays it all aside and decides she'll do what God wants.
Are you ready to do the same? Are you in a place of trust in God where you can say, "Do what you will Lord"? If not then turn it over to God now. If so then why not reaffirm this trust.
Father, I pray that we might have servant hearts. That we might learn to trust you in everything. Lord I turn my life over to you, I seek your will and I'm waiting to do what pleases you. Amen
Written by Matt Grady of alternativity.org.uk
