Tuesday
Reading: Luke 1:26-38
SOAP: Luke 1:31-33
Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”
When it was finally time for God to announce the coming of the Messiah, He once again chose the unexpected and extraordinary. God sent an angel to a young, unwed girl. Simply seeing such a creature would scare anyone, but this angel told her she would be the mother of the Redeemer of humankind. Not only would the Messiah save His people, but He will also reign over a kingdom that has no end.
How Mary must have felt! This is an amazing announcement and one we don’t deserve. God loves us with such a divine love that He sent His Son to us so we could be saved. Then He lavished us with an abundance of grace.
Lord, you are goodness and grace. You are full of mercy and kindness. We do not deserve all You have done for us, and yet You died for us anyway. Help us to feel deep love and gratitude in return that spurs us on to obedience and good works.