Day One - Choosing Faith Over Fear

The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The LORD is with you."  Mary was greatly troubled at his words...  (Luke 1:28-29)

Perhaps one of the most inspiring aspects of the nativity story is that Mary chose to faithfully obey God rather than give into her fears. God surely knew what He was doing when he selected Mary to be the mother of Jesus! Let's consider why she was chosen and what it means to find favor with God.

Luke 1:26-28

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[a] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”
³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (NIV)

²⁶ In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed^[a] 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!”^{[b] 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?”^[c]
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^[d] 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^[e] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.  (ESV)

 

^26-28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:

Good morning!
You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.

^29-33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

He will be great,
    be called ‘Son of the Highest.’
The Lord God will give him
    the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob’s house forever—
    no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”

³⁵ The angel answered,

The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
    the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
    will be called Holy, Son of God.

^36-38 “And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”

And Mary said,

Yes, I see it all now:
    I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
    just as you say.

Then the angel left her.  (MSG)

 

 

Consider verse 38. What a humble, submissive attitude Mary had!

 

Do you think Mary had any idea what she was committing to?

I think she knew that God could move in many ways and she was willing to serve Him no matter what. She seems to be completely sold out to God. I don't think she knew the specifics, and that's read about later on... but because I've read the ending, I can assume that. She was so young, how could she know??  My study bible says she was ____

 

Have you ever considered what it was like for Mary, an unwed pregnant teem in a Jewish family?  

Yes, many times now that I have children. Being pregnant during the holidays in my first pregnancy really made me consider what Mary went through. I was in a safe place, with a husband who adored me, with a home around me, with a planned pregnancy that was not only planned but I felt had been difficult to conceive. What must Mary have gone through!! And on a donkey at 9 months trying to find a hotel?? Seriously, God??  THAT would have been a MAJOR fight in my home. Why didn't you call ahead?? What were you thinking, Joe? You couldn't make a plan for us, even knowing I'm about to POP????

 

Think about the suspicions and doubts she had to endure.

So God's been quiet some 400+ years, and a teenage girl walks in to tell me that God has impregnated her. RIGHT!! What is this child thinking??  It's a good thing Joseph backed her up quickly. God was so good to send him an angel to verify her story!!

 

Luke 1:39-56 

 

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
 
⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. (NIV)

 

 

 

³⁹ In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, ⁴⁰ and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴² and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there would be^[a] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” 
⁴⁶ And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹ for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
⁵⁰ And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵² he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶ And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.  (ESV)

 

 

^39-45 Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,

You’re so blessed among women,
    and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
    the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
    greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
    skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
    believed every word would come true!

^46-55 And Mary said,

I’m bursting with God-news;
    I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
    I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
    the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
    on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
    scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
    pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
    the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
    he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It’s exactly what he promised,    beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home. (MSG)

 

 

What character traits do you see in Mary that led God to choose her to be the mother of his son, the savior of the world?

She was quick to follow him and his plan. She left immediately. She just knew what to do! Gabriel had told her Elizabeth was pregnant, but not that she should go see her. She was clearly Spirit led here. Upon arrival, she trusted Elizabeth and was overjoyed the she KNEW! What a relief for a young girl trying to follow God. To have an older (much) mentor who was also willing to follow God with his unpredictable plans.

Mary was also quick to stop and praise God in all his goodness. To bring up MANY great things about God, and not just those that concerned her at this particular point in her life. She remembered God's great promises; his history with his people, his strength, his mercy, his expectations, his punishment for those who are hard-hearted.

 

Luke 2:1-7

 

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (NIV)

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration when^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,^[b] who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (ESV)

 

^1-5 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

^6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel. (MSG)

 

 

For Mary to be favored by God meant great suffering as well as great honor. While the pregnancy and birth were not what you would expect for a king, it must have been amazing to witness the shepherds and Magi coming to visit her newborn baby. She was warned by Simeon that "a sword would pierce your own soul" (Luke 2:21-38), but she would be known for eternity as the mother of the Christ.

 

How has being used by God brought both honor and challenge into your life?

It definitely taught me how to honor my relationships with other people better. I feel my family has the best chance ever because of God in my life. It has allowed me to talk to others and help others, but it has also caused great hurts at times.  

 

When you weigh it all out, does not the blessing outweigh the difficulty?

Absolutely! I have been a part of a HUGE family of people that love and are willing to sharpen each other. I think people are alone and afraid. There are many who have very few truly deep friendships that are the kind that strive to make each other BETTER people. So many have decided to live and let live, to enjoy each other's follies, to think that it's not right to call someone else to becoming a better person with God as the magnet. I don't think I'm explaining myself well, but I know many people of faith who are still not ready to tell others around them how to become more Christ-like. It's all about love, but it feels more like tolerance and "like". For me, I feel very unloved if I completely blow it and no one tells me how to grow through that.

 

God saw qualities in Mary's heart and he chose her, despite her humble station in life and her circumstances. Sometimes we feel that God can't use us. Believe that God knows the qualities in your heart and he has chosen you for a special purpose.  (Eph 1:11-12)

 

 ¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[a] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. (NIV)

 

 ¹¹ In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. (ESV)

 

^11-12 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. (MSG)

 

I need to choose to believe!!

 

How has God shown you in your life that he has chosen you and favored you? 

I think God shows this to me through my friends voices. They are the ones who usually speak up and tell me that God is using me. I am so grateful for their encouragement!! I need to be more like that.

 

How can you prevent your fears from casting a shadow over God's choice to use you?

I need to find more security in God's words alone. He tells me all the time in his word that he loves me and that he has entrusted me with his precious secrets! I need to share the secrets of his kingdom, and listen to His Voice. I need to TRUST the bible, and not listen to the negativity in my own head that springs from all the lies I have believed. I have to CHOOSE to believe the truth and not a lie.