In every Christmas Season, we celebrate the incredible love of the Father God who gave His only begotten Son. You know, John 3:16 " …For God so LOVED the world." Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in a betrothed virgin, young woman named Mary. God found favor and freely chose Mary. Mary humbled and submitted herself to the message delivered by the angel Gabriel and so the story of Christmas begins.
Mary is often just thought of as an empty vessel in which God’s Holy Spirit endowed her with the Christ Child:
" Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
But when she saw him she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and 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 His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1: 26-32 NKJV
And yes, Mary was an empty vessel and it is because of her lowly station, her genuine humility, her lineage to David and willingness to believe and serve her Father God that she was favored.
”And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1: 35 NKJV
Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 NKJV
The Christmas Story begins with a Father (The Creator of all Heaven and Earth – all things seen and unseen) who demonstrates His glory and love in a humble, obedient girl named Mary. The mother of all humanity to bear the Messiah named Jesus. I have heard, “why is God always depicted as a Male, why not Female?” I don’t know the answer; I only know that we were all created in God’s image. “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27 NKJV I do know that Mary recognized the authority from whence the Angel Gabriel spoke to her and that she submitted to the will of the Almighty Creator.
So please know men and women, sons and daughters that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28. DON’T FRET over the station that you are in or in your circumstances, just humbly do the will of God as best you can.
Believers rid yourself of all ‘puffery’ and the power and glory of God will manifest in you in His way for His Kingdom. “He has scattered the proud and haughty in and by the imagination and purpose and designs of their hearts.” Luke 1:51 NKJ
“Blessed are you Mary among women!” Thank you for the example of humility and obedience you show each of us. Our emptiness can now be filled to overflowing and God’s grace will overcome all condemnation in us through the Christ child named Jesus. Allow God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to fill you with such hope that your cup will overflow. Let the grace of God in Jesus Christ remove all of your shame. Be strengthened in the birth of Jesus and in your calling for rebirth in Jesus Christ. Ascend every day towards the love of god in Jesus Christ.
"For a child has been born—for us!
The gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He'll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this. Isaiah 9:6-7 The Message
Prayer: Abba Father, I will rejoice, sing and praise for the love you have given freely to me; the blessing of a baby in a manger. I thank you for the mentor I have in Mary. Please use my lowly station to abide in You as You abide in me. Fill me with the heart of love you have for all those I see and think of today. Remind me to “always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens to always be thankful, for this is God’s will for me who belongs to Christ Jesus. 1 Thes 5:16-18 NLT
Amen and Hallelujah