Wonder - Day 12
The wonder of possible impossibilities
Luke 1:35-37
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.”
I am sure that Mary had no idea what it meant when the angel said, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you…overshadow you.” However, I am sure that she knew that what was about to happen was supernatural, beyond her own comprehension, and also, the fulfillment of a promise given a long time ago. I am sure she knew how her people longed for this day, and how important it would be. If I were her, I would have had a mixture of feelings that would have included humility to be chosen for this important task, but also fear that I wouldn’t be enough to do what was needed.
But God knows what we need more than we do, and God gives Mary another incredible gift; community. She won’t have to go through this alone. Her relative, Elizabeth, is also pregnant, and she also shouldn’t be pregnant. Elizabeth would be able to empathize with Mary and encourage her, because they were going through similar experiences.
What an amazing gift! God is so good!
Then the angel reminds us of what has been true since the beginning of time, even when we as humans have failed to believe it; “the word of God will never fail.”
These words remind me of other words from Scripture. Like when God told Abraham that Sarah would have a child in her old age, and Sarah laughed. God’s response to her was, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” And in their story, Sarah becomes pregnant and God’s promise was fulfilled, just as He said it would be.
I think of Jesus’ words when he tells his disciples that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. The disciples how, “Then who in the world can be saved?”. Jesus replies, “What is impossible for people, is possible with God.” (Luke 18: 25-27)
I think of where Paul tells the church in Corinth that “all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’” (2 Corinthians 1:20)
And I think of the famous chapter on love from I Corinthians 13 when Paul says, “Love never fails.” (I Corinthians 13:8a, NIV)
Friends, we serve an ever-faithful God who fulfills His promises, even if it takes time to do so. Our job is to learn to trust in Him, even when those promises seem impossible. Remember, there is always more going on than what we see with our eyes, so may we lean into His faithfulness, always remember that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV)
QUESTIONS
Luke 1:35-37
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.”
I am sure that Mary had no idea what it meant when the angel said, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you…overshadow you.” However, I am sure that she knew that what was about to happen was supernatural, beyond her own comprehension, and also, the fulfillment of a promise given a long time ago. I am sure she knew how her people longed for this day, and how important it would be. If I were her, I would have had a mixture of feelings that would have included humility to be chosen for this important task, but also fear that I wouldn’t be enough to do what was needed.
But God knows what we need more than we do, and God gives Mary another incredible gift; community. She won’t have to go through this alone. Her relative, Elizabeth, is also pregnant, and she also shouldn’t be pregnant. Elizabeth would be able to empathize with Mary and encourage her, because they were going through similar experiences.
What an amazing gift! God is so good!
Then the angel reminds us of what has been true since the beginning of time, even when we as humans have failed to believe it; “the word of God will never fail.”
These words remind me of other words from Scripture. Like when God told Abraham that Sarah would have a child in her old age, and Sarah laughed. God’s response to her was, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” And in their story, Sarah becomes pregnant and God’s promise was fulfilled, just as He said it would be.
I think of Jesus’ words when he tells his disciples that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. The disciples how, “Then who in the world can be saved?”. Jesus replies, “What is impossible for people, is possible with God.” (Luke 18: 25-27)
I think of where Paul tells the church in Corinth that “all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’” (2 Corinthians 1:20)
And I think of the famous chapter on love from I Corinthians 13 when Paul says, “Love never fails.” (I Corinthians 13:8a, NIV)
Friends, we serve an ever-faithful God who fulfills His promises, even if it takes time to do so. Our job is to learn to trust in Him, even when those promises seem impossible. Remember, there is always more going on than what we see with our eyes, so may we lean into His faithfulness, always remember that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV)
QUESTIONS
- For what concerns in your life do you need to be reminded that God is faithful, that His Word never fails, and that He keeps His promises?
- Do you have people in life to journey with, who can help remind you of God’s faithfulness when you struggle to believe?
- Proverbs 3:5-6 says to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Ask God to help you trust in Him more, especially when your understanding of what’s happening may be different from His.
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