Today’s Reading: Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 139

After hearing from the angel, scripture says Mary hurried to the town where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived. She had seen and heard an angel, receiving a message unlike one anyone had ever received before. She was a virgin, yet she was with child. She lived a simple life, yet the angel had called her “favored”.

THE LORD IS WITH YOU.

Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. – Luke 1:28-29

Mary would have heard the stories of angels bringing messages to men and women throughout the history of the Jewish people, but she probably was not expecting to have her own encounter. And here she was, hearing an angel call her favored, and telling her that the Lord was with her. Even more, the angel went on to tell her that she would soon conceive a baby by the Holy Spirit and the Son of God would grow within her. She, a humble young girl, had been chosen for this amazing task.

THE LORD IS WITHIN YOU.

Instead of feeling joy, Mary was confused and disturbed at what the angel was telling her. But when Mary arrived at the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth, she was greeted with the affirmation she needed. Perhaps she had not even spoken to anyone about what the angel had said; perhaps she had immediately made plans with her family to go and visit the one who might possibly believe that she had received a message from an angel.

Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” – Luke 1:42-45

WOMB TO WOMB

Did you catch the significance of this moment? The unborn baby growing within Elizabeth responded to the unborn baby growing within Mary. What a beautiful moment of affirmation and wonder! What a generous sign from heaven to confirm what the angel had said would happen!

In this passage, we see Mary go from the description of confused and disturbed to choosing joy in this special calling God had placed on her life. There would be plenty of negative reactions ahead to her explanation of how she was with child, but in this moment she could rejoice that the Lord had chosen her. Not only was the Messiah about to enter into this world, she had the privilege of being the first person to feel his movement and then later to hold him in her arms. She was the first to love him like no one else would ever be able to love him — like only a mother can love.

Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home. – Luke 1:46-56

Three months to soak in the reality of this promise. Three months to feel her abdomen swell. Three months to prepare herself for how her family and fiancé would react to the news of her pregnancy, each day growing in confidence that what the angel said was true. God had done what He said He would do, and now she would walk humbly in the part she had been asked to play. She would be the mother of the Lord growing within her — this special baby named Jesus.

We see this same pattern in our own opportunity for obedience. We receive a call on our life and then the Lord provides a season of preparation. He gives us time to adjust to the idea of what He has ahead for us — time to talk to our closest loved ones and time to align our heart with the heart of God. Thank God for sending individuals into our life who affirm God’s call and pray for us through the preparation. They are truly a gift! And how blessed are we when the Lord allows us to play that same role in the life of someone else who has heard from God — who is bravely taking the first steps of obedience.

Father God, thank you for allowing us to soak in the beauty of the Christmas story. We are grateful for the gift of your Son and for the privilege of serving a role in your plan of salvation. May our hearts remain humble and our bodies remain available for your calling, whether it’s for a moment or for a lifetime. You are a good God and we are blessed to be your servants. Amen.