Mary’s Baby Boy: All for You

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th, I would like to encourage you to start the celebration now, rather, waiting until the marked date on the calendar. See, leading up to that glorious day, there were so many sacrifices that were made, that was preparing for the coming of the Messiah. I could go into great detail; however, I want to focus specifically on the moment that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was told that she would birth a male child, who would be the Savior of the world. Can you just imagine what this teenage virgin was thinking? Well, I’m sure those puberty hormones took over her thoughts at some point. You know the hormones that instigates those slick thoughts and snappy tongue? I don’t know, Mary was probably full of more grace at that age, than these teenagers of today (side eye). I’m sure that Mary was scared and confused, BUT SHE ACCEPTED THE GIFT.

““How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”” Luke 1:34 NIV

What gift has God given to you, that came with much sacrifice and challenges? You know, not every gift comes wrap in a pretty red bow. Just think about that job that you fasted and prayed for, or the children that you begged God for. What about that marriage that you dreamed about as a young child, or the moment that you received salvation. All of these things are beautiful gifts from God, but most, if not all, has brought forth sleepless nights, heartache and stress. I want to encourage you to view Mary’s story as your own. Her gift, became your gift and serves a clear reminder, that all of the heartache, stress and sleepless night, were all worth it! Why? Because YOU were CALLED, CHOSEN and EQUIPPED, just as Mary was, to nurture gifts that ONLY God can give.

You may have walked into this holiday season feeling overwhelmed, over worked, unappreciated an/or, lonely and unseen. I want to encourage you to celebrate despite what the enemy has thrown your way. See, the enemy tried to take Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus out………. BUT GOD! The enemy may be at your doorstep, but God’ s blood is on your doorpost. Jesus came, died and rose back up, so that you can live. Celebrate! Don’t let the devil steal your joy, because Jesus is with YOU.

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Luke 1:26-35 NIV