Day 6

Gabriel, one of God’s archangels, delivered a message from God to Mary. Gabriel delivered the message in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist. Mary lived in a little city in Galilee called Nazareth. Nazareth was not particularly notable and was never mentioned in the Old Testament. Jesus, though, is forever identifie...

It is hard for us to imagine an angel appearing at our doorstep and saying, “Greetings, favored one!” Just like Mary, most would be perplexed (troubled). Mary kept wondering why she would receive such a greeting. Being called “favored one” should have calmed any fear Mary may have had, but as we read in Luke 1:30, Gabriel says, “Do not be afr...

God gives us His grace daily, and He gave Mary His grace as she asked Gabriel how she would have a child while still being a virgin. This was a great question because there had never been, nor will there ever be again, a pregnancy occurring in a virgin. Mary was wondering how this could even be possible, and if it was possible, what would she...

After Mary listened to what God sent Gabriel to tell her, she went to see her relative, Elizabeth. This would have been an 80 to 100-mile trip. Gabriel told Mary of the miracle God performed in Elizabeth’s womb by giving her a child. Mary may have thought that Elizabeth would be the only one to believe and understand her story. When Mary arri...

In Luke 1:42, Elizabeth shouted with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women.” Indeed, Mary was blessed, for she had chosen to believe God’s message (Luke 1:44) brought to her by the archangel Gabriel. We too received the fullness of God’s blessing when we chose to believe God’s Truth about our Lord Jesus Christ and completely surrender ou...

In Luke 1:46–49, Mary began to praise our Lord. Praise is what our Lord deserves from us every day of our lives, for He alone is God, Master, King, and Lord. Praise is what every servant of our Lord should be proclaiming. Praising God occurs when we fully understand the awesomeness of Him and all that He has done for us. Mary recognized, as w...

As Mary continued praising and honoring our Lord, she recognized God’s incredible mercy offered to every generation. But the only ones who will experience the fullness of God’s mercy are those who surrender to Christ as Lord. Only a life fully surrendered to Him can receive His mercy. It’s not that God is not offering His mercy to everyone, f...