Friday, December 16, 2011

Going From How? To Wow!

The angel announces the birth of Jesus.


Luke 1:26-38  In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.

28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”

38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

From How?

Mary asked the angel how this could happen, pretty fair question since she didn't have an intimate relationship with a man yet, she was engaged but she hadn't been with anybody yet. This child wouldn't be conceived by man and so therefore this child would be holy and he would be the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)

To Wow!

Mary has plans just like every young lady, especially now that she is engaged to Joseph, a nice quiet life in Bethlehem was probably what she pictured for herself. But God has a way of changing our plans, upon hearing the news about her amazing child, Mary responds with surrender and gives her life to God.
Luke 1:46-49  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.
Mary's life was forever changed at this moment, that's how God works, you are going along minding your own business and then God sets you on a new course. Just like he did in Mary's life he doesn't give you a lot of information on the how, he just waits for us to say wow!

Help me to be surrendered to the plans that you have for my life Lord.