Daily Reading: 5-18-16
Luke 1:26-38 New Living Translation (NLT)
In our devotional yesterday, we read about how the Spirit reveals God’s goodness; God is a Giver who provides everything we need to live in spiritual victory. If we lay hold of spiritual victory by welcoming the work of the Spirit, God’s glory will flow into every area of our lives; an inside to outside process. The Spirit will supernaturally overshadow our human condition and ability. I don’t know about you, but I confess my great need for the Spirit to overshadow my soul and what I bring to the table of life. I have a great desire to accomplish or fulfill more than I could ever do on my own.
I love the angel’s prophetic message to Mary. I am even comforted that she is confused by the Word of the Lord to her heart. Why? It means the Spirit is overshadowing her. When the Spirit is working in our lives, we may not be able to grasp spiritual things until they are revealed in the natural. That is when our love for God and our faith in the work of the Spirit of Truth must sustain us.
Luke 1:26-38 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, favored woman! The Lord is with 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 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.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Mary invited the work of the Spirit; the work began inside and was delivered into a natural world. This is a spiritual lesson that teaches Truth for every believer; male or female. The Spirit manifests and fulfills the Word of God to every believing heart; the Word NEVER fails and will always produce what God intends for our lives. Such Good News for us, today!
Prayer: Father, as Your daughter, I hold onto the seed of Your Word in my heart and await the fulfillment of every spiritual promise You have made to me. Holy Spirit, please overshadow me. I am Your servant, Lord. May everything You have said about me come true.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.