December 23, Fourth Advent Sunday

Luke 1:26-38

        In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  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.  But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name 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 the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
        "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"  The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon 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 barren is in her sixth month.
        For nothing is impossible with God."  "I am the Lord's servant,"  Mary answered."  "May it be to me as you have said."  Then the angel left her.

Devotion

        It is amazing how the young woman Mary is fully obedient to the Lord, even though she doesn't fully understand the implications of what is about to happen to her.  We hold up Mary as a woman of strong faith - her faith is strong not simply because she listens, but it is strong because she accepts God's Word, even when she doesn't full understand it.

Prayer

        Heavenly Father, you know that many times in our lives we hold back our faith because we cannot fully understand what is happening in our lives.  We ask this morning that you give us the boldness to step out and act, allowing you to guide us when the way is uncertain.  Amen

by Pastor Jim Visbeek

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