Rehearse the Word

December 11-12

For three days now the image of Mary and Gabriel has come to mind. Being hesitant and almost disobedient the other day to pose a simple question God had on my heart to ask someone, pales in comparison to the request made of Mary. (Well, OK, maybe it was more of a "head's up, you're going to be pregnant"..I actually had five of those surprise revelations, but I was sleeping with a man.)

Let's refresh our minds with the story...

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.” Luke 1:26-38

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

While I am sure Mary was taken back a bit, "troubled" I believe is the word used in Luke, she was accepting of this occurrence because she had grown up being taught God's Word. She was able to "rehearse" in her mind what she had been taught about God and his power, his provisions and prophecy. It did help that God chose an angel and not the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker to bring her this message.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

What "words" from the Bible do we need to be rehearsing to get us through some realities in our lives right now?

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. Hebrews 1:1-3

Do we need a Mary (or merry) faith to accept the path God had placed us on?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Let's Pray:

Lord, of all creation, Your plans astound us. Forgive us when we allow disbelief to enter the picture and we question You or Your ways and we wander away not wanting to be part of the plan. Breathe a refresh upon us today through Your Holy Spirit which calls us to rehearse what we know to be true about Your love, Your Sovereignty, and Your ultimate sacrifice...Your Son, in whose name we pray in and also stand up for. Amen