Promises and Peace
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
26 One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee 27 with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. 28 The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was confused by the angel's words and wondered what they meant. 30 Then the angel told Mary, “Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you, 31 and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. 33 He will rule the people of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.” 34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not even married!” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God's power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37 Nothing is impossible for God!” 38 Mary said, “I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her. 39 A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. 40 She went into Zechariah's home, where she greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby moved within her. The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. 42 Then in a loud voice she said to Mary: God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. 43 Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? 44 As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. 45 The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise. 46 Mary said: With all my heart I praise the Lord, 47 and I am glad because of God my Savior. 48 God cares for me, his humble servant. From now on, all people will say God has blessed me. 49 God All-Powerful has done great things for me, and his name is holy. 50 He always shows mercy to everyone who worships him. 51 The Lord has used his powerful arm to scatter those who are proud. 52 God drags strong rulers from their thrones and puts humble people in places of power. 53 God gives the hungry good things to eat, and sends the rich away with nothing. 54 God helps his servant Israel and is always merciful to his people. 55 The Lord made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his family forever!
Luke 1:26-55
Memory Verse
Luke 1:46
46 Mary said: With all my heart I praise the Lord,
A storm pressed down on a coastal community. People gathered inside a mall to shelter from the wind and rain. Worried, they huddled around store televisions watching weather updates. One man talked about his island home, bearing the brunt of the storm. He wondered what would be left when it passed.
“Why are you so calm?” asked a young woman. “You’re losing everything!”
The man didn’t feel calm, but he answered, “I’m a Christian, and I pastor a church.”
The woman’s face lit up. “Of course!” she said. “You have God. I got it! It all makes sense.”
During Advent, we remember stories of long-ago people who faced great uncertainty. Imagine Mary, a teenager, called by God to be Jesus’ mother. “How could this be?” she wondered at first. Mary didn’t have riches or fame; she lived a humble life. But the angel Gabriel assured Mary. “God’s favor is on you,” he said. “Anything is possible with God.” These reminders prepared Mary to accept the big thing God asked her to do.
A while later, as baby Jesus grew within her, Mary sang a beautiful song, praising God. Her words declared truths bigger than fear or worry. “God is merciful!” she sang. “He keeps his promises!” Mary sang about how God turns the world’s ways upside down. He makes the weak strong. She sang of Abraham.
Remember Abraham? God promised that Abraham’s descendants would outnumber the stars in the night sky. Mary trusted that God would keep this promise, and she believed she had an important role to play in God’s story.
We often face uncertainty in life. When we’re afraid, we can look to God, the author of our stories, the one who calls us each by name. Our security and our peace rest in his great love.
Prayer
God of mercy, you didn’t choose Mary because she was strong or rich or perfect. You chose her because she was faithful. Help us to be faithful too. Give us your peace when we are afraid or uncertain. Thank you for calling each of us by name. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue us from sin and darkness. We love you, Lord. We know you love us. Amen.Related Resources
Sara Korber-DeWeerd
Sara Korber-DeWeerd is a freelance writer, teacher, and Down syndrome advocate. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband Mark and their three children, plus one dog and seven chickens. When not teaching or writing, Sara enjoys exploring the mountains, lakes, and rocky coastlines of New England with her active family (though they usually leave the chickens at home).