The Promised One

Verse:

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:30-33, KJV)

Devotional:

Mary was just an ordinary girl, engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. But one day, an angel appeared to her and said, 'Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!' (Luke 1:28, ESV). Mary was understandably confused and afraid, but the angel went on to tell her some incredible news.

She was going to conceive a child by the Holy Spirit and give birth to a son. This son would be called Jesus and would be the Son of the Most High. He would be given the throne of David and would reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom would have no end.

Can you imagine being in Mary's shoes? It's hard enough to believe that you're going to have a child when you're a virgin, but to hear that your child will be the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior of the world? That's a lot to take in.

But Mary didn't question the angel's words. Instead, she responded in faith, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word' (Luke 1:38, ESV). Mary's obedience and trust in God's plan paved the way for the birth of Jesus, the promised one.

As we approach Christmas, let's remember the incredible gift that God gave us in His Son. Jesus was not just any baby; He was the fulfillment of centuries of prophecy and the hope of the world. He came to save us from our sins and give us eternal life.

Daily Challenge:

Take time to reflect on the significance of Jesus' birth. What does it mean to you personally? How can you share the message of Christmas with others?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the incredible gift of Your Son, Jesus. Help us to remember the true meaning of Christmas and to share His love with others. Give us the courage and boldness to proclaim the good news of salvation to those who need to hear it. May our hearts be filled with joy and gratitude as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. In Jesus' precious name, we pray. Amen.