December has come!
Hey everyone! Happy December 1st. It is hard to believe that November is over! It brings to my mind that 2023 is almost over, but let's not think about that now. We still have a few weeks before New Years so let's slow down and spend some time focusing our gaze on what this holiday season is all about. As the days lead up to Christmas day I want to read through Luke with every one of you! So, let's start in Luke 1
This is such a great chapter, to sum it up it is talking about when the angel Gabriel came to Zechariah and told him that he would have a son named John who would receive the Holy Spirit in his mothers womb and who the angel told would “be great for the Lord” (Luke 1:15)
John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus. Then, later on in the chapter the author shares how the angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her that she would bear a son and his name would be called Immanuel God with us. She would bear a son who would be King.
Let’s break it up a bit now. Verses 6-7 the author explains that Elizabeth and Zechariah were both advanced in years with no child. They had been praying, asking God to give them a child but Elizabeth was still barren. As they began to lose hope the angel Gabriel came to Zechariah and told him that he would have a son whom he would call John. When the angel had come to Zechariah fear fell on him. But the angel said “do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard.”
I just want to stop and say, isn’t it just so amazing that God hears our prayers. Even when we don’t feel like he does. He is always listening.
Many would rejoice at the birth of John, Gabriel said!
Later on in verse 16-17 Gabriel shares that John will “turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.”
“He will go before him in the Spirit and power of Elijah, to turn hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared,”
John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus, to prepare people for his coming!
He would be filled with the Holy Spirit before he was even born, and would be great before the Lord. Even though Zechariah did not believe the words the angel had spoken and ended up becoming mute until the birth of his son. He ended up coming to believe the words that the angel spoke and still named his son John even though everyone around him was questioning the name choice. Zechariah may have questioned the words from the Lord like all of us seem to do every now and then, but that didn’t mean he stopped following God. He still knew God had a plan.
Elizabeth was barren and past the age of becoming pregnant, but nothing is impossible for God! He heard their prayers for a child and even though he may have answered it later then they thought or were hoping he still gave them their beloved son. Don’t lose hope. What may be impossible for man is possible for God! Whatever you are praying for, God has heard every prayer. He will answer it in time, even if he doesn’t answer it the way you thought. Remember that his plans for you are greater!
Moving onto verses 26-38 where the angel Gabriel visits a virgin woman named Mary who is betrothed to a man named Joseph.
Mary found favor in the Lord and Gabriel told her that God is with her. When the angel had told her this she became troubled. She didn’t know what to think of that. Once again the angel said “Do not be afraid, Mary”
He tells her that she will conceive a son and will call him Jesus. He will be great and “
“will reign over the house of Jacob and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
How did she become pregnant as a virgin? The Holy Spirit came upon her. She gave birth to the Son of God.
Mary’s response to all this at the end is one of my favorites, her Faith is so beautiful. She said “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Mary was so faithful and obedient in her response to giving birth to the Son of God whom God had hand picked her to do. She was chosen to be his mother for a reason.
In verse 37 Gabriel told her, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
I won’t get into it much but later on in verses 46-56 Mary sang a song of praise to God during her pregnancy. She magnified the Lord through it all. I wonder if she ever became afraid or questioned why she was chosen. Either way she was so faithful! You should go read those verses yourself. They are my personal favorite and I just cannot put words into what it means to me.
I will however share a couple verses that stood out to me the most in her song.
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” (1:46-47)
In verse 48 she said “Now all generations will call me blessed,” Mary is blessed.
“For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name,”
God has done great things! He has proven that nothing is impossible for Him to do. He gave a son to Elizabeth and Zechariah who were advanced in years and barren. Then he saw Mary and gave her, a virgin woman, a son. Not just any son, but the Son of God, the King of Kings!
Always remember, NOTHING will be impossible with God, you can be healed from something the doctors said wouldn’t leave you! You can get a job you weren’t sure you were qualified for, you can travel somewhere you thought you weren’t going to have enough money for. God will provide! God will heal! God sees you, He has heard your every prayer and seen your every tear. He loves you so much! God is calling you to Him this Christmas.
So, as you slow down, take time to remember why you celebrate Christmas. Spend time with family and friends, share the true meaning of Christmas with someone. I am so excited to see what God does this Holiday season. My prayer is that God would help me to slow down and focus on Him even through the busyness of the holiday season.
Praying for you all! I hope you have a happy December 1st.
All Scripture is read from the English Standard Version (ESV)
