Daily Devotion Text

December 20, 2017

Christmas 2017-12-20

By carmenhsu In Christmas 2017, Devotion Text with Comments Off on Christmas 2017-12-20
  • Journal
  • Read & Reflect

    Luke 1:26–38 (ESV) 

    26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

    34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

    35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

    “Scholars tell us that Nazareth was a small humble agrarian town. And the region of Galilee was not a respected region.  At the time of Gabriel’s appearance, Mary was most likely to be a young teenager.” [1]

    Luke 1:26-37

    • What worldly values are overthrown by God’s choice to send Jesus through Mary?
    • Does the manner of Jesus’ coming challenge certain values I hold regarding people, status, wealth and power?

    Luke 1:38

    • What implications did Gabriel’s message have on Mary’s life?
    • Ultimately, what was her response to God?
    • What is my level of willingness to do whatever God may ask of me?

     

  • Gratitude Journal & Prayer of Thanksgiving
  • Write down three things that you are thankful for.

[1] Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), 57. 

Scroll to top