Christian Reflection and Prayer

Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord;
let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).
Read Luke 1:36-38.

 

Did you ever open a Christmas present only to find
an empty box with a clue in it? Following that clue
led you out to the swing set, where another clue
sent you to the hall closet. From there you went out
to the garage, then up to the bedroom and, finally,
down to the basement, where your real present was
waiting for you.

The angel concludes his visit assuring Mary nothing
is impossible for God, pointing to Mary's own relative
Elizabeth as an example. Mary humbly offers herself
to God's wonderful plan. But she has no idea the
crazy path she will follow, as His plan unfolds in her
life. We will trace this path through this Christmas
season into the Lenten devotions, coming later this
winter.

 

But no matter what will happen, Mary trusts God, and
she is content to follow His path, wherever it may lead.
We can learn a lot from her attitude! Sometimes God's
will takes us down paths we are not expecting, paths
we sometimes do not even wish to go. But God
promises to be with us along the road. And we look
forward to a great present at the end: eternal life with
Him in our glorious and resurrected body, living in a
perfectly restored world.

 

Actually, Mary's Son Jesus did the same thing too.
When His Father asked Him to take the path of the
cross, Jesus said, "Not My will, but Yours be done"
(see Luke 22:42). He went to the cross, took our guilt
on Himself, and died in our place so that God could
look on us with love, favor and forgiveness.

 

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sometimes Your
perfect plan for our life takes us down paths we would
not choose on our own. Give us faith and confidence
to trust You as Jesus did. In His Name. Amen.

 

(Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

After these days (Zechariah's) wife Elizabeth conceived,
and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,
"Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when He
looked on me, to take away my reproach among people"
(Luke 1:24-25).

Read Luke 1:23-25.

 

Many husbands and wives struggle with the heartbreak
of infertility. But Zechariah and Elizabeth experience
something even deeper. During that period when a
couple was childless, their neighbors often made false
and hurtful assumptions about them.

 

Judaism had lost its proper understanding of the Old
Testament. Instead of focusing on God's undeserved
grace for helpless sinners, the Jews focused on their
own worthiness. They judged their neighbors'
relationship with God by the blessings He showered
on them. Their good health, financial status, overall
prosperity, social status, and number of descendants --
or lack of -- were indicators of their connection with
God. No matter how much they honored God and
trusted His salvation, Jewish society looked upon
Zechariah and Elizabeth's infertility as proof that
things were not quite right between them and God.

Now, at last, God has visited them and removed
Elizabeth's social disgrace. But interestingly, Elizabeth
doesn't go right out and clear up her reputation by
broadcasting her pregnancy. Instead, she keeps her
pregnancy hidden. Perhaps it is because Elizabeth
knows God is doing something even greater than
granting her the gift of a child-as special as that child
will be.

 

God is sending His Son into the world, and her son will
be His forerunner, His messenger. How surprised she
will be in the sixth month when the mother of God's Son
comes to be a guest in her house.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Heavenly Father, it is not easy to be judged and
misunderstood by people-especially when I struggle
through difficult situations. Grant me Your joy, peace,
and patience as You guide me through this life. In Jesus'
Name. Amen.

 

(Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)