Tomorrow we celebrate Christmas, and in anticipation of that joyful day, we are reminded in today’s gospel from the first chapter of Luke’s gospel, about the time when the Angel Gabriel first appeared to Mary and announced to her that she would conceive and give birth to Jesus.
We’re all familiar with that narrative, right? It begins with the Angel surprising Mary with the greeting, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Then the angel calms her down and proclaims God’s plan, about her giving birth to God’s Son, and then assures her that even though she’s a virgin, the Holy Spirit will come upon her and make the impossible virgin birth happen. Finally, the story concludes with Mary accepting and saying, “I am the servant of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.”
While we get ourselves ready to commemorate the birth of Jesus tomorrow, let me share with you THE verse in this passage that has brought hope to me personally in my ministry, in my role as a father, in my work, and in even in my prayers for others people’s well-being.
And I pray that this verse today brings hope to all of us throughout the year, and not just on Christmas day.
That verse is in Luke 1:37 which says, “For no word from God will ever fail.” Other translations would put it this way: “For with God, nothing is impossible.”
Brothers and sisters, I hope God speaks to you today with that verse, and bring you assurance that whatever He says, He will do. And even if what He says seems impossible in our mind, know that nothing is impossible with God.
Think of this as a two-sided coin. On one side, it says, God can do anything and everything. There is nothing that God cannot do. On the other side, it says, God is faithful to His word. Whatever He says He will do, you can be assured that it will be done. He does not go against His word; and because He can do anything and everything, even if what He says seems impossible to us, it will happen.
And just like in the birth of Jesus, as early as 700 years before His birth, God had already promised the virgin birth to a Messiah, even though it seemed to take an impossibly long time to happen, it did happen.
This is why when we approach God in prayer, and especially when we read the Bible and hear his His words of assurance, we are filled with hope and confidence knowing that there is nothing impossible with Him.
My friend, have you heard God speak to you a promise and assurance of His love and His forgiveness, even if you think that you are the most unlovable and most unforgiveable person? Be assured of God’s love and forgiveness. Because He said so, it will happen and it is happening. Have you responded to God’s call to minister and to serve others, but feel unfruitful in your ministry? Be assured of the fruitfulness of your labors, that will come in God’s time. You may never see the fruit of your labor, but God’s vineyard will not be unproductive. Are you burdened and trapped in a situation that you seem is irreconcilable? Be assured when you hear God promise that He will restore you. Nothing is impossible with Him. Are you suffering from an illness that seems will never be healed? Be assured that death is not the end of our existence, and that God has promised you eternal life.
Rejoice, I say it again, rejoice. For nothing is impossible with God. Merry Christmas, and God bless us all!
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Luke 1:26-38
| Luke 1:26-38 The Birth of Jesus Foretold 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[b] 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. |
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