December 5
The Dawn of Hope
Luke 1:26–33
“26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Young Mary is startled by the sight of an angel and she had every right to be afraid. If the presence of an angel wasn’t daunting enough, the thought that sometimes angels delivered bad news would have been more than most could handle. However, Mary’s fear gives way to faith as she learns of The Promise growing in her belly. Her life would undoubtedly be changed forever. But the baby she was carrying would undoubtedly change everyone else’s life forever too. In Mary, an unexpected mama-to-be, we see the beauty of a servant. Mary’s “Yes” opened the door for salvation. Hope grows in hearts that surrender.