Wednesday, June 17, 2009

#2 Chapter 1:26-38 Gabriel sent to Mary


Read Chapter 1:26-38 ..then come back..

Have you ever really wondered what it must have been like for Mary when the angel Gabriel showed up out of the clear blue sky and started talking to her?

Other scriptures describe Gabriel as a huge and powerful angel, so he was no ordinary 5ft 8 guy...He was huge and probably lit up the place with the glory of God!

But then Gabriel began speaking to her (v 28-29) "Rejoice highly favored one!, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women!" and when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and considered what manner of greeting this was"

I bet she was troubled...I hope she was sitting down...but in any case I would guess her knees buckled at least a little bit! After all she was only a young girl, probably no older than 15. She was poor, female and uneducated...not someone that most would think God could or would use especially in that day, and even today..

How many young girls in our own lives need someone to tell them they can do and be anything God tells them they can be and do?

Gabriel was pretty nice to her though because he said (v30-33)"Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God...and behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus...He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God will give Him the throne of the His father David and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end"

Close your eyes and just think about what it must have been like for Mary...what was going through her mind?

I wonder if she really comprehended what she was being told at the moment? Did she really grasp the enormity of what had just been told to her?

I'm sure that she was aware of the ages old promise and desire all the Israelites had for a Christ, Savior..the Messiah, but did she immediately put 2 & 2 together and realize that she was the one who would give birth to this Messiah?

Can you imagine what it must have been like for her? To believe that even though she was a virgin she would become pregnant...that SHE would be the one used in such a miraculous way? What she was being asked to believe was unbelievable...It was IMPOSSIBLE! ...I want that kind of faith that believes anything and everything God says I can be and do. Nothing is impossible for our God!

Unlike Zacharias who was an important Priest, you would think he should be FULL of faith didn't believe but this young little girl did. She believed God could and would do what He had said He would do.

In today's world it's still not uncommon for women to be considered unworthy or unable to be used to do anything of any great importance. I am reminded here of the scripture that says that God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things to confound the mighty.

From the worlds point of view it may seem foolish for God to use us in wonderful ways. He uses what the world considers weak to put the so-called wise and mighty to shame!! I love that!!

The next time God tells me that He is going to use me to do something...I'm gonna believe Him!

What did you learn from reading about Gabriel's visit to Mary?

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