Tue, Dec 8

“Nothing Will Be Impossible for God”

Today, we come back to the story of Mary’s conversation with the angel Gabriel. Mary, no more than 15 or 16 years old, is curious how she’s going to have a baby while being a virgin, and Gabriel makes clear that it is by the very power of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that hovered over the waters in Genesis 1, bringing life and light out of the dark chaos, will come into her womb and generate the life of the child – the Son of God. There is a clear sense of this being hard to believe, so he informs Mary of another unlikely miracle, that of her barren elderly cousin who was also pregnant. Then he makes one of the most powerful statements in the whole of Scripture, “For nothing will be impossible for God.”

What impossible situations are you up against? What challenges have you faced that seem insurmountable? What has God said about those things? What has God said about you? Whatever God’s will is in those situations, however improbable or impossible, will come to pass because nothing is impossible for God.

But Mary’s response to such a powerful declaration was just as miraculous: “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Keep in mind, Mary was only a teenager and yet had the faith to trust in God’s word, regardless of how impossible it sounded. So, what is God’s word to you today? Do you see yourself as Mary saw herself, the servant of the Lord? Can you trust God’s word, even if it seems impossible?

Scriptures

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.

The grass withers, the flower fades
    when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
    surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
    but the word of our God will stand forever.

The Lord Reigns

97 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
    let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
    and burns up his adversaries all around.
His lightnings light up the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all the peoples see his glory.
All worshipers of images are put to shame,
    who make their boast in worthless idols;
    worship him, all you gods!

Zion hears and is glad,
    and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
    because of your judgments, O Lord.
For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above all gods.

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
    He preserves the lives of his saints;
    he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous,
    and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
    and give thanks to his holy name!

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