Joy To The World – The Birth of Jesus Foretold. In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice, she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:26-45
Mary’s Song – Luke 1:46-55
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Joy is a choice we are encouraged to make daily as we trust the faithfulness of God. There is evidence of this throughout the Bible. God made the choice to fill this world with His presence by bringing us love, joy, and peace, among many other things! Joy is seen in many ways; the birth of a new baby, graduating college after many years of hard work, getting a new job we have longed for, and a believer being called home after suffering from an illness for many years.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and, self-control. Galatians 5:22
I love how Mary honored God with praise by sharing the news with her cousin Elizabeth that she would carry the Savior of the World! When fear might have been her first response, Mary sings as she is filled with joy! This shows why she was highly favored by God. She was a young woman filled with humility having a personal relationship with the Creator of the world. Like Mary, we are invited to do the same.
Prayer: God, Show us how to live a life of favor like Mary did. Guide us with Your strength to live a life of humility. Help us to have obedient hearts when You call us to do Your will. Remind us our joy is a choice as we live in obedience to You daily. Above all else, we ask You to be our personal Savior for we cannot live without You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
