Christmas Journey: Ten Days of Wonder Beispiel

[IMAGE CONTENT] > Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph…The virgin’s name was Mary. Luke 1:26-27 Oh, Mary. Has there ever been a female with so much mystery surrounding her? Has anyone ever been written or thought about as much as Mary without having many details to go on? God’s favored girl. Possibly in her early teens, He called upon her to carry the Christ Child, the Anointed One. We don’t know if she was pretty, talented, or popular. What makes the world go around in our modern culture isn’t usually the same measure our Father uses (1 Samuel 16:7). Appearance doesn’t turn His eye. Instead, it is moved by a person’s heart. And it’s the position of her heart that is so wonder-full. God’s favor wasn’t in her doing; it was in her being ready to receive direction from His heart to hers. It is interesting to note that Mary responds to the angel Gabriel almost exactly as Zach did. Initially fearful, she had her own set of questions revealing that she knew the ramifications of what the angel was telling her. Yet, something was different, and her response is one of the sweetest in all of Scripture: Let it be to me according to Your word. Pastor Jack Hayford speaks of the Mary Miracle because she is the precursor of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling.* Mary points the way to Jesus being formed in us. Yes, we might be fearful and questioning, but our hearts, moved by the Holy Spirit, are being transformed from glory to glory in His image (2 Corinthians 3:18). > Let’s take our cue from Mary. It is our life’s assignment to respond to Him and His call upon our lives, every day of our lives— Yes, Lord, yes. Take a moment to consider: How does today’s lesson encourage or challenge my heart? * Jack Hayford, The Mary Miracle (Baker Publishing, Ada, MI, 1994)