Read Lutheran Daily Devotional – 6 December 2022 Tuesday Message. As you study today’s devotional, remember this; “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)
TOPIC: Joy and Fear
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His Name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:30-33)
Mary would have recognized this promise—any Jewish girl would. A son to inherit the throne of David? To rule over Israel forever? This baby will be the Messiah. Two thousand years after He said it to Abraham, God is keeping His promise at last.
And Mary is overjoyed! She will be a part of this great thing. But it’s going to be very intimate—her body, for nine long months. Her labor and delivery—for the very first time. She will be nursing this baby, changing His diapers, teaching Him to walk, to talk, to do His chores and mind His manners—all the things any human child must learn.
She must have felt joy. She must have felt fear.
But God would be with her, as He is with us when He asks us to take on life-changing challenges. And as God uses our bodies and minds to care for others, we glorify Jesus, who gave Himself for us first—who lay down His very life for our sakes, and rose from the dead to make us God’s own.
WE PRAY: Lord, as I face challenges, be closer to me than my own body and mind. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* What is one intimate kind of care you have had to provide for someone?
* What made it easy? What made it hard?
* What is one intimate kind of care God provides for you?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Ezra 3-4 1 John 5
God bless you for reading December 6, 2022 – Lutheran Daily Devotional Message. Encourage someone today by sharing this Gospel