Welcome to Jill Hamming, a friend of mine from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and a regular participant on this web page. She will share her reflections on the readings from Luke 1-2.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
God sent Gabriel to Mary. “Greetings favored one,” The Lord is with you. Wow! How surprised Mary would have been. To see an angel, to be told she was blessed, told not to fear and then finding out her part in God’s plan for saving His world. Mary was going to give birth to the Son of the Most High! Some of us would have fainted! Some would have been skeptical. Mary’s question is practical. She receives an astounding answer.
All women of Israel wondered if they would give birth to the Messiah. The honor has come to Mary and she accepts it as the Lord’s servant.
God, our Creator and Master, was carrying out His plan, which would affect all people. Yet He still cared about each individual. He knew that it would be difficult for Mary to be an unwed mother, how some would shun her. He understood about the questions, joys and pains. He provided, in Elizabeth, another first time mother, already known to Mary, who could share the process with her.
PRAYER:
Thank-you for Your kindness to us God. Thank-you that You always know what we need. Thank-you that You include us in all Your work. Help me to trust You, especially when the path You give me to walk seems impossible. Thank-you for the evidence that you are Big Enough. I want to serve You. Amen.
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
While the call to be pregnant with Jesus was unique to Mary, there is a general sense where God comes to all of us and asks us to “bear” His Son into the world. And we may protest, “how is this possible, I am only…”, but He answers us that the Holy Spirit will come upon us an enable us to do the impossible. All that is needed is for us to say like Mary, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as You have said.”
How do I bring Jesus into the world? I am called to live like Jesus, speak for Jesus, point to Jesus. My words and actions by themselves are empty and weak, but empowered by the Spirit of God, Jesus is born into the hearts of those I witness to. This is God’s work, not mine, I just need to be a willing vessel for the Spirit to produce Jesus through me.
Practically speaking, am I willing to surrender my voice box, my hands,m my possessions, etc., to promote Jesus to those I meet today? Will people see/experience Jesus in me? Some might say that this is easier for me, because I am a minister, but I think its harder, because people assume it from me. They attribute it to my being a pastor. And sometimes I’m not sure that I do/say what I do because I am a minister, or as a Christ-follower. I’ve got to wrestle through this one.
PRAYER:
Lord, I am Your servant, may I bear You into my day as You have called me to. Help me to be like You, in my words and actions, not because I am a minister but because I am Your follower. Amen.