To read: Luke 1:26-38
New Revised Standard Version Bible,In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God."Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
To think about:
Sunday
morning a group of little children gathered around me at the front of the church. It was the "children's message" time. In front of me was a duffle bag with two 40-pound bags of cement inside. I invited the children to move the duffle bag - they tried and tried but couldn't. There are some things in life which we just cannot do on our own.
The angel said to Mary, "Nothing is impossible with God."
God did not stand and say, "I want to send my son, but I need someone to make it happen." God did not need Mary, but Mary needed God. God did not need Elizabeth, but she needed God. God did not need man to make his plan for our salvation work. But we desperately needed God to make things happen. Our sins weigh too much for us to move on our own. It isn't God's impossibility but our impossibility. In his son Jesus Christ our impossibility becomes the possibility of salvation. Our inability merged with Christ's ability makes all things possible.
With all the children helping, we lifted the duffle bag and lugged it to the foot of the cross. There we left it.
To pray:
Jesus, with you in our lives we know the relief of forgiveness and the hope of salvation. Be a part of our life today. Amen.
Northern Great Lakes Synod Treasurer
Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Iron Mountain, Mich.