Devotion 17 December 2025

(Jesus) 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.  Luke 1: 32

READING: Luke 1: 26-34

This is one of the most incredible historic factors of history.  The angel Gabriel spoke the Word of God over a young single girl named Mary in the small town of Nazareth in Galilee and she became pregnant with the baby Jesus, the Son of God.  This was predicted by the prophets. In Isaiah 9 : 1b the prophet says, “in the future God will honour Galilee of the Gentiles.  In 2 Samuel : 11 – 14b God promises to David, that the Lord will establish a house for David, --- He will raise up for David an offspring to succeed him and God will establish His kingdom. God will be His father and He (Jesus) will be His Son.

Mary was initially afraid, but the angel calms her fear as she becomes aware of the divine presence and power.  Mary was favoured by God.

Advent is all about the celebration of life, the creation and promise of new life, the gift of abundant life for all God’s people.  Elizabeth and Mary, the mothers of John and Jesus, both experience this wonderment, this promise of life ahead.  They do not know what the future holds for them or their offspring, but they have faith in the God of life, which leads to a wondrous gratitude to our God.  They both graciously accept this gift from God.

Prayer

Loving Lord Jesus, we greet Your birth at Bethlehem with joy and praise.  We thank You for the great signs You have sent us: the angels’ song, the star and the infant’s cry.  Accept our heartfelt praise as we worship You, for the Word made flesh in a little Child, our Saviour and our eternal God. Amen