Mary - God’s way of involving people in His plans for the world is often beyond our understanding and not what we expected. Through Mary, God shows that the impossible is possible with Him. Mary was visited by an angel who brought her a special message. Mary’s figure a few months later will have surprised a few people: an unmarried woman who obviously was with child. Mary was awarded a unique place to be remembered in God’s history with humankind. Through her, the promised Saviour was born. The Redeemer who would save all the world from the power of sin and death. Mary had never thought that she would have such a role in God’s plans. Ask God to equip you for the path that He prepared for you

“Mary said: Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” - (Luke 1:38).

In the temple in Jerusalem and in synagogues elsewhere in the country, God’s name was invoked and served by His people Israel during the time of Mary.

People prayed for, and looked forward to, the Messiah promised by God. 

For a long time, God seemed to remain silent. 

God did not break that silence in a way that was startling to all. 

But it was very amazing for the young woman Mary in Nazareth.

Mary was visited by an angel who brought her a special message. 

Mary’s figure a few months later will have surprised a few people: an unmarried woman who obviously was with child. 

Mary was awarded a unique place to be remembered in God’s history with humankind.

Through her, the promised Saviour was born. 

The Redeemer who would save all the world from the power of sin and death. 

Mary had never thought that she would have such a role in God’s plans. 

People might not have assigned her that place either, being a young, unmarried woman. 

God’s way of involving people in His plans for the world is often beyond our understanding and not what we expected. 

Through Mary, God shows that the impossible is possible with Him. 

Yes, He can!

Are you willing to be involved in God’s plan for this world? 

Ask God to equip you for the path that He prepared for you.

biblword.net

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Mary, Did You Know? - we have a Messiah. His name is Jesus. He is the Savior of the world. He walked on water without a single bit of effort. He came and died to make us new. We really don’t know much about Mary except that she was a virgin and probably in her early teens

Praying to Mary and the Saints - we are all sinners who need a Saviour that will deliver us from the eternal consequences of living in sin. The Bible does not mention that Mary is an exception or that Mary was a sinless person

Praying to Angels - offering our worship or prayer to anyone but God is idolatry. Prayer to the Father through Christ is the only necessary and effective means by which we can communicate with the Father. Only the Son and the Holy Spirit can intercede before the Father’s throne

Our Glorious Bodies - we have a mortal body now, but then it will be imperishable. We now have a vile body that will be changed into a glorious body. Our Lord Jesus will fashion us after the pattern of His own body. There is no honor to our bodies now, but then they will be glorious. Weakness is our burden now, but in eternity we will be endued with power. Christ humbled Himself when He took on our flesh. One glorious day, the Lord Jesus will change our humble bodies into that which is reflective of His own. "We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is”

"We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." - (Philippians 3:20-21)

Two vivid contrasts are highlighted in this text: 

We now have a vile body that will be changed into a glorious body. 

Our Lord Jesus will fashion us after the pattern of His own body.

There is ample evidence, both in Scripture and in our own experience, that our present physical bodies are “vile.” 

The English word seems more intense than the Greek, which simply means “lowly” or “humble.” 

Christ humbled Himself when He took on our flesh (Philippians 2:8). 

The Virgin Mary saw herself in a “low estate” as she compared herself to the wonder of what was happening to her (Luke 1:48).

But one glorious day, the Lord Jesus will change our humble bodies into that which is reflective of His own.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” - (1 John 3:2). 

What a marvelous thought! 

Even “after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:26).

The exciting description of those absolute changes are encapsulated in 1 Corinthians 15:42-58. 

We have a mortal body now, but then it will be imperishable. 

There is no honor to our bodies now, but then they will be glorious. 

Weakness is our burden now, but in eternity we will be endued with power. 

Thank You, heavenly Father, for this majestic promise. 

BY HENRY M. MORRIS III, D.MIN. 

Days of Praise

the Institute for Creation Research 

At the Institute for Creation Research, we want you to know God’s Word can be trusted with everything it speaks about—from how and why we were made, to how the universe was formed, to how we can know God and receive all He has planned for us.

icr.org

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Our Heavenly Bodies Will Be Like the Body of the Resurrected Jesus - death is not the end of life - your new body will be designed for eternity -It will never die; it will outlive the stars

The Reality of the Bodily Resurrection of Jesus - the resurrection of Christ serves as the basis for the future resurrection of all who believe in Him. Through Him we can have eternal life and abundant life

Death the Last Enemy to be Destroyed - the defeat of death by the God of life proves the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. Death can only be destroyed by the resurrection of both the wicked and the righteous, who will die no more

The Mystery of God Becoming a Man - the more you think about the fact that God became a man, that he became a baby, the more staggering it gets. And to be a true Christian, it is essential to believe this truth about Jesus. Jesus did not empty himself of his divine attributes, but he did accept the limitations of humanity. We know that Jesus was tired, hungry, lonely and thirsty. He experienced all of this. So, the next time you’re tired, hungry, thirsty, weary or lonely, know that you have a God who understands what it’s like to stand in your shoes. He is the only one who can accurately say that he feels your pain

Two thousand years ago, a question was posed to a group of religious men: 

“What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is he?” - (Matthew 22:42).

This is a question that some of the greatest minds have grappled with over the years. 

And it’s worth noting that during the earthly ministry of Jesus, many were perplexed about who he really was.

To some degree, I don’t think even his disciples fully grasped his mission and who he was until his death and resurrection. 

In fact, when he was walking the earth, some thought he was Jeremiah the prophet. 

Others thought he was Elijah. 

Others even thought that he was John the Baptist, risen from the dead.

But for all practical purposes, Jesus Christ was God with skin on. 

He was the Messiah, God in human form, walking among us.

There are many today who say that Jesus was a wonderful prophet, that he was a great, godly man.

But Jesus claimed to be God in human form. 

And not only that, he claimed to be the only way to have a relationship with God the Father.

Jesus did not say, “Admire me” or “Think well of me.”

Rather, he said, “Follow me.”

‘Veiled in Flesh’

In the New Testament book of Philippians, the apostle Paul wrote:

“Though [Jesus] was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 

"Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. 

"When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” - Philippians 2:6–8

Jesus never became God. 

Nor did Jesus ever cease to be God. 

He was God before he was born, and he remained God after he became a man.

So in the Incarnation, in the moment when Jesus came to this earth and was born of the Virgin Mary, did he lay aside his deity?

No, Jesus remained God. He always was God and always will be God. 

I think the Christmas hymn “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” puts it well: 

“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’ incarnate deity; Pleased as man with man to dwell; Jesus, our Emmanuel.”

Jesus never voided his deity, but he did veil it.

The Real Miracle of the Incarnation

We are given a glimpse of this in the story of his transfiguration. 

Jesus took his disciples Peter, James and John with him up on a mountain, and they fell asleep (which they often did at very critical times). 

When they awoke, there was Jesus, standing with two great prophets on each side of him. 

The Bible says that his garments shined like the sun (see Mark 9:3). 

He was radiant.

Now, it wasn’t a miracle that Jesus shined like the sun during his transfiguration. 

The real miracle was that he didn’t shine like that all the time. 

He veiled his glory, but there for a moment he let people see who he really was. 

He was indeed God in human form.

C.H. Spurgeon put it well when he said that Jesus was:

“infinite, and an infant — eternal, and yet born of a woman — Almighty, yet hanging on a woman’s breast — supporting the universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms — king of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph — heir of all things and yet the carpenter’s despised son.”

Paul adequately summed it up when he wrote:

“You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.”  - 2 Corinthians 8:9

Jesus went from the throne of heaven to a feeding trough. 

He went from the presence of angels into a cave or stable filled with animals. 

He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. 

He who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent on the nourishment of a young woman.

God became a fetus. 

The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby.

An Essential Truth

The more you think about the fact that God became a man, that he became a baby, the more staggering it gets. 

And to be a true Christian, it is essential to believe this truth about Jesus.

Some would assert that Jesus never really claimed to be God. 

But as a matter of fact, he did.

Jesus said:

“You are from below; I am from above. 

"You belong to this world; I do not.

"That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.” - John 8:23–24

That was a clear statement of equality with God the Father.

Jesus also accepted worship on many occasions, which was something that is reserved for God alone. 

In fact, in the wilderness when Jesus was tempted by the Devil to worship him, Jesus quoted Scripture saying, 

“You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him” - (Matthew 4:10).

Jesus was underscoring the fact that worship is only to be given to God. Yet he accepted worship on many occasions because he was indeed God.

We also know that Jesus forgave sins, and only God can forgive sins. 

Mark’s Gospel tells us that on one occasion a paralyzed man was lowered through the ceiling of the house where Jesus was speaking. 

When he saw the commitment and faith of the man’s friends, Jesus said, “My child, your sins are forgiven” - (Mark 2:5).

That sent the Pharisees into an uproar. 

They said, “This is blasphemy! 

"Only God can forgive sins!” (verse 7).

Jesus did not empty himself of his divine attributes, but he did accept the limitations of humanity. 

We see this throughout the Gospels. 

We know that Jesus was tired, hungry, lonely and thirsty. He experienced all of this.

So the next time you’re tired, hungry, thirsty, weary or lonely, know that you have a God who understands what it’s like to stand in your shoes. 

He is the only one who can accurately say that he feels your pain. 

No one else can say that truthfully. 

But he can.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship with campuses in California and Hawaii. He began his pastoral ministry at the age of 19 by leading a Bible study of 30 people.

The foundation that Harvest began building on 50 years ago is the same foundation it stands on today, and that’s the commitment to knowing God and making Him known.

harvestdirect.org 

outreachmagazine.com

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A teardrop on earth summons the King of Heaven - God takes special notice of those tears of yours. In some mysterious way, our complex inner-communication system knows when to admit its verbal limitations . . . and the tears come. Eyes that flashed and sparkled only moments before are flooded from a secret reservoir. We try in vain to restrain the flow, but even strong men falter. The Lord ta

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Streams in my desert: He Sees Your Tears - perhaps you’re in a season when tears are coming and going. Let me encourage you; it is in those seasons that God is doing his most incredible work. Through tears wrought within the peril and weakness of a Christian’s pilgrimage, God is bending low to hear His child’s cries. Practically speaking, our tears have a purpose. They remind us of our need. They remind us that even Christ’s tears fell. They remind us that tears will one day be no more. “… and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain ..."

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The angel Gabriel - Gabriel is one of God’s good and holy angels. Gabriel’s name means “God is great.” It is possible that Gabriel was also the angel that appeared to Joseph, but this is not certain, since that angel is unnamed in Scripture. As the angel of the annunciation, he is the one who revealed that the Savior was to be called “Jesus.” In response to Mary’s question about how this was to happen, since she was a virgin, the angel Gabriel said the conception would be the result of the Holy Spirit’s work in her. He has a favored position as an angel who “stands in the presence of God” and he was selected to deliver important messages of God’s particular love and favor to individuals chosen to be part of God’s plan

What does the Bible say about the angel Gabriel?

The angel Gabriel is a messenger who was entrusted to deliver several important messages on God’s behalf. 

Gabriel appears to at least three people in the Bible: 

- first to the prophet Daniel (Daniel 8:16); 

- next to the priest Zechariah to foretell and announce the miraculous birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:19); and finally 

- to the virgin Mary to tell her that she would conceive and bear a son (Luke 1:26–38). 

Gabriel’s name means “God is great.” 

And, as the angel of the annunciation, he is the one who revealed that the Savior was to be called “Jesus” (Luke 1:31).

The first time we see Gabriel, he appears to Daniel after the prophet had a vision. 

Gabriel’s role is to explain the vision to Daniel (Daniel 8:16). Gabriel’s appearance was that of a man (Daniel 8:15; 9:21). 

When Gabriel visited Daniel a second time, he came to him “in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice” - (Daniel 9:21). 

Gabriel’s “flight” might suggest wings, but wings are not mentioned. 

It is also clear that Gabriel’s appearance was rather terrifying, as Daniel fell on his face at the sight of him (Daniel 8:17) and was sick for days after his experience with the angel and the vision (Daniel 8:27).

In Daniel 10 we see another interaction between the prophet and “one in the likeness of the children of men” (verse 16); however, no name is given to this messenger. 

The angel says he has come to help Daniel understand his vision, so it is very possible that this passage is also referring to the angel Gabriel. 

From the language in the passage, it is also possible that there are actually two angels with Daniel — one speaking to him and another strengthening him so that he can respond (Daniel 10:16, 18). 

The angel also refers to a battle occurring in the spiritual realms. 

This angel, who we can reasonably assume is Gabriel, and the angel Michael were apparently engaged in battle with a series of demonic kings and princes, including those called the prince or kings of Persia (verse 13) and the prince of Greece (verse 20).

Gabriel says that he was sent from heaven in specific answer to Daniel’s prayer. 

Gabriel had left to bring the answer as soon as Daniel started praying (Daniel 10:12). 

But Gabriel ran into trouble on the way: “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days” (Daniel 10:13) and actually kept him from coming to Daniel as quickly as he might have otherwise. 

Here we have a glimpse into the spiritual world and the battles taking place behind the scenes. 

The holy angels such as Gabriel are performing God’s will, but they are resisted by other spiritual beings who only want wickedness in the world.

Gabriel’s message to the priest Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was delivered in the temple as Zechariah was ministering before the Lord. 

Gabriel appeared to the right of the altar of incense (Luke 1:11), a symbol of prayer, and told Zechariah that his prayers had been heard (verse 13).

Zechariah’s barren wife, Elizabeth, was going to conceive and bear a son; this miraculous child was to be named John, and he would fulfill the prophecy of the coming of Elijah (verse 17; cf. Malachi 4:5).

Gabriel’s message was met with disbelief, so Gabriel struck the doubting priest dumb until the day of the child’s circumcision (Luke 1:20, 59–64).

Gabriel’s appearance to Mary was to announce the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The mother of the Messiah was assured of her favor with God (Luke 1:30) and told that her Son would fulfill the Davidic Covenant: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 

"The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (verses 32–33). 

In response to Mary’s question about how this was to happen, since she was a virgin, the angel Gabriel said the conception would be the result of the Holy Spirit’s work in her, and therefore “the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (verse 35).

In all three appearances, Gabriel was met with fear, and he had to begin his conversations with words of comfort and cheer for Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary. 

It is possible that Gabriel was also the angel that appeared to Joseph in Matthew 1:20, but this is not certain, since that angel is unnamed in Scripture.

What we do know is that Gabriel is one of God’s good and holy angels. 

He has a favored position as an angel who “stands in the presence of God” - (Luke 1:19).

And he was selected to deliver important messages of God’s particular love and favor to individuals chosen to be part of God’s plan.

GotQuestions.org is the primary site of Got Questions Ministries

Got Questions Ministries is an internet based ministry whose mission is to glorify God and reach people for Christ by providing biblical answers to spiritually-related questions.

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