And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth.
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel said, “Hail, thou are highly favoured among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
No, I’m not celebrating Christmas in February.
Although I do, believe as believers, we actually celebrate Christmas all year.
Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving.
I just mean that the tree is down and this portion of the “Christmas” story is still effecting me outside the holiday season!
I was still parked this morning in Luke 9, but when it says “Then He gave the disciples Power….”
I was curious to see what He had been sharing with them before that.
Let’s rabbit trail back to the water heater and you’ll see how my mind works.
There is a root to everything.
What you see on the surface has it’s origination it a root.
And this morning my question was, and has been at times, why, if the disciples were given this power,
couldn’t they cast out the demon in the little boy in Luke 9.
So, He answered it for me in Luke 1, by Mary’s answer to the angel.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying……..
Thank God for Mary.
Thank God for Mercy.
Have you ever been troubled at His saying?
The struggle is real.
Especially this one.
Now, Mary is a virgin.
She’s doing everything right…..
And yet still, she’s troubled at his saying.
What was He saying?
That she was favoured, graciously accepted, or much graced.
Surely we could see how a rebellious sinful person could have trouble with that saying,
but Mary?
She was a good girl.
If anyone could understand and not struggle with Grace, Surely it would be someone who seemingly deserves it?
Right?
Wrong.
We as humans struggle with the idea that the God of Life simply Loves us and Made us acceptable.
Even when our performance seems to measure up, we still have trouble believing we are graciously accepted.
But friend,
WE ARE!
The root of the non casting out of the demon, was unbelief.
Not unbelief in Jesus, but unbelief in Us.
Seeing the problem and not believing what Jesus says we are.
Much Graced.
Acceptable.
Jesus made the disciples acceptable.
He made us acceptable.
I believe God is nudging our hearts this morning to stop struggling and casting in our minds if we are good enough.
He said we Are.
He gave us the power.
It’s not something that we can conjure up or get more of based on our perfect performance or lack thereof.
Grace is a Gift.
It’s a bestowing.
Praise God, Mary allowed the Truth to cast down imaginations.
She then humbled herself and said,
“Be it unto me, according to thy Word.”
Brothers and Sisters, today is a new day.
If you’ve been in a struggle,
Humble yourself to believe what God says about you.
Let us answer the same way.
Lord, Be it unto us according to Your Word.
If you say we are accepted, then we receive it.
If you say we are empowered, we believe it.
ThankFully Restored 