...God's Ways...

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her”

Luke 1:26-38.

It is clear here, as well as in Matthew, that Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb before she had sexual relations with Joseph. Mary in a virgin. In no way is this a commentary about about sex. There is no denigration of sex, women, conceptions or birth. It is simply stating a single, obvious fact: Mary became the mother of God by virtue of a special grace of God.

Of huge importance are these words spoken by the angel: “32…you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Here Luke gives political and royal meaning to the whole event. This child will be the Messiah, the king of the house of David. Good had promised David a descendant who would reign forever — not only Israel only, but over the whole world. Luke invites us to put this together — the conception of the baby, the power of God, and the challenge to all human empires. This familiar little text is actually quite explosive.

So consider the power of God in this story. And consider the power of God in your story.

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:8-9.

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26.

If God’s ways and God’s thoughts are not our ways or thoughts, and if God can do anything, then take time to welcome Him into your life today. Again!

I believe that is what Mary did at the end when she commented, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” (Verse 38).

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy in me a sinner.