ESOCS Devotional 8 December
TEXT: LUKE 1:28-45 KJV
MEMORY VERSE: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel … God with us.” Matthew 1:23 KJV
When Angel Gabriel broke the announcement to Mary in Luke 1:30, he said, “… Thou hast found favour with God” among all women, because she was chosen by God to give birth to the incarnate Son of God. She did not have the faintest idea of what the whole thing was all about. Mary was not chosen because of any special good work on her part. Many young women of her time had the same spiritual qualities. It was only by the grace of God that she was chosen.
This seed of the virgin Mary was to be named Jesus – which means SALVATION (Luke 1:31).; He would be the Son of the Most High God (vs. 35; He came in fulfilment of the prophecy that was given to David that one of his descendants would sit on the “Throne of his father David” (2 Sam. 7:12-14). Such would not be a reign on earth, for the authority of the throne of David was always in heaven. It follows therefore that when Jesus ascended to the Throne of God in heaven, He would reign from heaven at the right hand of the Father (Dan. 7:13-14; Eph. 1:20-22; Heb. 8:1; Phil. 2:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:24-28).
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
When in Luke 1:33, Angel Gabriel said, “And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever …”, and that His kingdom shall know no end, the reference here was not to a physical reign on earth. The Angel was speaking of a spiritual reign in the hearts of men, for the kingdom of Jesus is not of this world (John 18:36-38).
CHALLENGES
- Sarah and Isaac – the beginning of God’s recovery work! Mary and Jesus – the climax of God’s plan of salvation! Discuss.
PRAYER POINT
Lord, Thou who showed Mary your divine grace, please enlist us among the favoured. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Proverbs 7:1-9; 8:22-36; Luke 1:17-27; 1:45-55
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ESOCS Devotional 8 December
