The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 22 December 2019 – TOPIC: BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN!

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DATE: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2019
(Advent 4)
TOPIC: BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN!
READ: LUKE 1 :26-38 (NKJV)

26. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27. to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name [was] Mary.
28. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored [one,] the Lord [is] with you; blessed [are] you among women!”
29. But when she saw [him,] she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
30. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
32. “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33. “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34. Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35. And the angel answered and said to her, “[The] Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
36. “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37. “For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38. Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

THE MESSAGE:

Today’s topic, as found in verse 28 of our text, was beyond every expectation, an unprecedented but glorious salutation of Angel Gabriel to a maidservant whom God had granted favour. Mary was just a virgin betrothed to a carpenter named Joseph, of the house of David. At first, she was confounded by the words and manner of greeting by the Angel who came to deliver the Good News of the Messiah to be born. Though she was of a lowly status, yet God chose her to be highly blessed among other women.

Mary was fortunate to be blessed among other women as the mother of Jesus not because she was the finest, or smartest or even holiest, but because she availed herself by living a life of humility and purity. Her humble heart and background attracted the favour of God to her. What can God find in us that will attract His blessings to our lives? God is looking for a man or woman He would bless and who would in turn become a blessing to others. Have you any room for Jesus that He may come in and announce to you, ‘Blessed are you among people’? Therefore, let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt us in due time (I Peter 5:6).

PRAYER: Hymn A&M 89: My Spirit longs for thee within my troubled breast, though I unworthy be of so divine a guest.