Day 10 – Mary

Study Luke 1:26-38

“And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” Luke 1:28

Luke describes Mary as “Parthenos” in Greek, meaning a girl of marriageable age; a virgin. In those days, engagements were arranged between families, and Mary was espoused to a true descendant of King David, Joseph. A marriageable age was determined from the girl’s first menstrual cycle between 14 and 16 years. The espousal usually stretched over a year, during which the couple became acquainted before the marriage ceremony. Unfaithfulness on the part of the bride during this period was punishable by death. And for Mary to be pregnant before the ceremony was life-threatening.

Did God place Mary’s life in danger? No, He fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah and protected her from any harm during. When we think “what would everybody else think”, God is saying, “be concerned with what I think.” Gabriel confirmed three things to Mary, which should also be embedded in our Christian DNA. She is highly favoured, the Lord is with her, and she is blessed. You, lovely one, are highly favoured, the Lord is with you, and you are blessed!

The angel Gabriel’s message to her was one of hope and joy, not only for the nation of Israel but for the entire world. In the blink of an eye, young Mary went from a small-town girl to the mother of the future King.

Pray with me: Father, how privileged are we to learn this story about Mary in the Gospel of Luke? We are so prone not to act in obedience because of fear of what others might think, where the importance lies with what You think. Thank You, Father, that we are highly favoured, that You are with us, and that we are blessed. Amen. ©

Love, Pastor Iriza