Each year while reading the Christmas story, I wonder what it would have been like to be Mary or Joseph. Mary wasn’t anyone special; she was an ordinary young woman who was pledged to marry an older man. And Joseph was a carpenter who simply wanted to live his life as a commoner in the town of Nazareth. They were two very average people chosen by God to be the earthly parents of His heavenly Son. Why them? What was so special about them?

The Bible doesn’t give us a lot of information about either of them until they’re mentioned in the Christmas story but two facts remain true: the Messiah must be born of a virgin, (Mary was) and be a descendent of David (Joseph was).

Wouldn’t you love to have witnessed the angel Gabriel as he appeared before Mary? “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35). In the book of Matthew, Joseph encounters the angel in a dream: “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21).

Our Almighty God chose to humble Himself to enter this world the same way we did, as a newborn baby. He didn’t want the frills, status, or grandeur; he chose simplicity, humility, and gentleness. God chose two faithful and willing people to accomplish His earthly mission.

God sent Jesus to be formed in the womb of Mary the same way He sends His spirit to be formed within our hearts today. In the book of Acts 1:8, we’re given the same message that was given to Mary, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.”

God loves us so much that He sent His Son to teach us how to love. He sent His Son so that we would know the love of our Father, the promise of our Savior, and His presence in us through the Holy Spirit. God has chosen each one of us to be His dwelling place for a specific mission – the mission is to be His vessel of love.

Showered in His love,
Brenda Bates – December 2006

Prayer to the Father:
Father, thank You for loving us that much. Thank You for wanting to include all of us in Your mission to love and to be loved. Did You choose Mary so that You could be loved the way a mother loves her child? Did You choose Joseph so that You could experience the bond between a father and his son?

Why do You choose us now when You have all of the heavens? You waved Your hand and the earth was formed; yet you chose Your own creation to hold You comfortably in her arms. Why Lord? Why?

We don’t deserve You. We don’t deserve forgiveness and we don’t deserve to be cleansed; but thank You Lord for mercy and love. Thank You for not only forgiving our sins but freeing us from sin and protecting us from sin. Thank You for the gift of Love. Thank You Lord for Jesus. Amen.

Scripture:
Matthew 1:22-23, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, God with us.”

Mary, Did You Know?
{Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene}

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know, that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know, that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the face of God.

The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know, that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding, is the great I AM.