"Greetings, O favored one,
the Lord is with you!
...
Do not be afraid, Mary for you have found favor with God."
~Angel Gabriel
Luke 1:28,30
Luke 1 is packed full of life changing truth that sits subtly in the pages of the New Testament, waiting to be claimed and held on to.
We start out with Zechariah and Elizabeth--a righteous and upright couple that walked blamelessly.
In spite of their righteousness however, God had yet to answer their desperate plea for a child.
For Elizabeth, this plea was not only born of desire to be a mother, but there was much reproach on behalf of culture and society towards women that were barren. Bearing a child gave value, worth and purpose to women. Elizabeth, by all measures of society, had none of the above.
Yet, she continued to live blamelessly.
She refused to let anger, doubt or self pity swallow her.
She continued to present her requests, her pain and her desires before the throne of a God she knew had a heart of compassion and love towards her. In God's perfect timing, He showed Himself faithful to a woman that continued to call Him such.
God's timing couldn't have been more perfect.
John the Baptist, the close relative of Christ and the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah was born just months before our blessed Savior Jesus Christ. As we continue to study the book of Luke, we will see how the lives of these two men were timed together for a very specific reason.
God's timing is not our timing.
God's timing is altogether, perfectly good.
I had to smile as I read the angel's greeting to Mary.
Think about it--he first reminded her of her favor with God. Then he reminded her of God's ever abiding presence. Then, he encouraged her fearful heart by reminding her yet again of God's favor upon her.
The angel Gabriel was about to make an unbelievable, life altering announcement and knew that Mary would replay this conversation in her head a bazillion times. She needed to hear that God's favor and presence were upon her.
I don't know about you, but I feel like that.
I will never forget the moment that the phone call came.
The announcement was made.
The bomb was dropped and life was forever different.
In that moment, God's ever abiding presence was there and I remember it well.
In spite of scrutiny, pain or unthinkable circumstances (all of which Mary knew well as a result of her announcement), God's favor still rests upon those that embrace Him as Lord of their lives and live to glorify Him regardless of what this earthly life brings our way.
Her response?
"Behold, I am the servant of the Lord;
let it be to me according to your word." (v.38)
It wasn't about Mary.
It wasn't about what Mary could endure.
It was about the Lord she served and the Lord that would sustain her
in spite of the 'scandal' that was about to unfold,
the whispers and sneers of those that failed to believe the miracle
that was underway on their behalf and on the behalf of every sinner to come.
With haste, Mary departed from her small village and went to the home of her dear relative Elizabeth. It was in the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah that Mary sought a respite from the controversy that surrounded the unborn child growing within her.
It was in the presence of these blameless people that she found encouragement and the strength of fellowship and belief.
Elizabeth affirmed Mary for believing that what God had said, Go would do.
Undoubtedly, Mary replayed the angel's visit in her heart and mind many times over, wondering if she was crazy for believing such a declaration.
After all, she was just a normal, quiet every day girl.
The mother-to-be of the Promised Messiah?
The much anticipated Redeemer coming as a dependent infant?
So it is with us.
It is easy to look at our life and try to reconcile the words of God with our perception of reality and the future.
This can be a nearly impossible task at times as we survey the rampant wickedness, disease, unfairness and uncertainty of life. How in the world can God be seen and glorified through such things?
It is in those times that we will find our strength and encouragement not only through the power of Scripture, but through the prayers and friendship of fellow believers in Christ.
God did not call us to walk this road alone.
We need to pray together, listen to one another and encourage one another with the truth of God's promised and eternal Word of Truth.
God is faithful.
God's timing is magnificent and perfectly good.
God's presence and favor are ever abiding as we abide in Him.
I pray that you would be encouraged through the words and presence of other God loving people today and that the response of your heart, regardless of the questions, pain or uncertainty would be similar to that of Mary....
"I am a servant of the Lord.
Let it be according to your word..."
peace.
<><tce
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