"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" (Luke 1:45 NIV)
I am continuing my study of Luke today. For those of you who read my blog but don't understand why I am using it to lead a Bible study...for those of you who think the Bible is outdated and not relevant to our lives today...I must tell you that the Bible does have relevance in our lives today and it gives me hope! In this day and age when just turning on the TV can cause one's hope to fly out the window, where is the harm in reaching out and believing in something that speaks to your heart? What is wrong with searching for meaning and peace and hope and finding it within the covers of a book that has been around for thousands of years and was inspired by our God and creator? Whether you think you believe in God or not, if everyone read the Bible and followed the teachings of Jesus and truly reached out to that creator God, he would touch your heart as he touched mine and the world would be a better place.
Read Luke 1:26-80
We read yesterday about Zechariah's reaction to the news that he and his barren wife were going to have a child. He didn't believe it...he didn't have enough faith to believe the impossible and he was made silent. His voice was taken away.
How did Mary's reaction to Gabriel's news to her differ from Zechariah's reaction? What did her reaction tell you about the kind of people God chooses to work through?
What can you do to maintain a servant's spirit in you day-to-day life? Is it possible to be as humble as Mary was? Can you develop a humble spirit or are you born with it?
Mary sang a song, or used pretty words to express her gratitude and praise to God for what he was doing through her. Those verses have always touched my heart. "My soul magnifies the Lord." I'm sure this news caused her some worries and really messed up her plans with Joseph. I'm sure she was worried about what her family and neighbors would say as she began to show and they found out she was pregnant. But even in the midst of that chaos in her life, she believed in the promises of God and praised him for what was happening. She had no idea that this humble beginning for her son would lead to the salvation of the world.
How does Mary's joyful song give you hope during the chaos going on in your own life?
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