On Sunday, we began to celebrate the season of Pentecost—the advent or coming of the Holy Spirit. We typically read this Luken gospel passage during the season of Christmas—the advent of the Son of God (Luke 1:26-38). But, we need to connect these two advents together in our understanding, because they are certainly One with the Father and His purpose to bring salvation.
In the beginning, the earth was covered by darkness and the Spirit hovered over the chaotic deep waters to bring forth the Word of Life (Gen 1:2). This same Word came to Mary and the Spirit hovered over that which was dark and formless [her womb] to bring forth Life—the Word took on flesh. For you and me, the Word came to our hearts [a place that produces] and the Spirit brought it to Life in order to provide us with transformation—to bring spiritual order to our otherwise chaotic and confused souls. Without the work of the Spirit, our minds, wills, and emotions remain an absolute MESS.
So, our passage today is not only a Christmas story about the advent of Jesus to be the flesh that saves our souls, it is a lesson about how the advent of the Spirit came to be the power that would transforms our souls and give flesh [ours] to the Word. We need salvation from sin and Jesus provides the perfect and pure sacrifice. We need the spiritual formation of our dark souls, and the Spirit provides the power for an inward transformation that becomes an outward witness to the world as we are led by the Spirit…all for the glory of Father God!
So, today, please remember you are the womb of Almighty God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord is with you. Your are favored by the One and in his love you are the Lord’s servant. Like Mary, may everything the Lord has spoken over each of us and planned for us come true.
Luke 1:26-38 NLT The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, [rejoice] favored woman! The Lord is with you! [blessed are you]”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel[the house of David] forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
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 [nothing is impossible with God].”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Prayer: Father, thank you for sending the Son and the Spirit to bring us salvation and bring spiritual formation. Save us from the chaos of this world, by being the Word we live each day. Form us in your image, so we can know, experience, and grow in your beautiful character and nature. Empower us by the Spirit to be passionate witnesses of the Truth that has changed our souls. May everything you have said about us come true. In Jesus’ name. Amen.