Luke 1:46-47 (NIV)

Over two thousand years ago, the young virgin, Mary, was visited by the Angel Gabriel, who was sent specifically to her in Nazareth. She was greatly troubled – perhaps even terrified – at the sight of such an unexpected visitor! He greeted her with words that confused and troubled her. But he calmly spoke and said, “Do not be afraid.” Then he gave her the astonishing news that she would be pregnant and birth a Son, whom she would name Jesus! He said, “This child will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High! And His Kingdom will never end!”

Astonished, she questioned the angel as to how such a thing could be possible, as she was a virgin. He explained how the Holy Spirit, the Power of the Most High would overshadow her, so the Holy One born of her would be the Son of God. The young Mary must have been overwhelmed by the surreal visitor and his unexpected words; but she believed the message and said to the Angel, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be as you have said.” The Angel left her.

A short time after this astonishing event, Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who had been barren all her life. The Angel Gabriel had also told Mary that her once barren cousin would also conceive and bear a son. Thus, the visit.

When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s door and knocked. When Elizabeth opened the door she felt the baby in her womb leap, as if in recognition! Elizabeth exclaimed in a loud voice – “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” At this greeting, Mary replied: “My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”

As we think about this story of how the mother of Jesus and the mother of John the Baptist were used by God for great things, let us ponder our place in the world and seek God’s will in our own lives. Let us ask ourselves, “What does God require of me? What does God want to birth in my life? What miracles of faith does God wish me to accomplish? As a Christian, a Christ Follower, what is my assignment in God’s plan for the world? Am I listening to the messengers God sends to my door, to my ears, to my eyes? Am I hearing the call to do good, to provide for the needy, to help out the homeless, to be more generous in my giving – especially in this time of great need for those around me? Am I, like Mary, saying YES and proclaiming “My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” Will I do the great things God has asked me to do today?

During this Christmas Season, as we celebrate the birthday of Mary’s child – The Son of God – our Savior, Jesus Christ, let’s remember to be more aware of messages that suddenly come to us. We just may be entertaining angels unaware!

Dear God, Thank you for giving us your Son, Jesus! Thank you for giving us the opportunities to grow in his loving likeness and to hear the cry of the hungry, the lonely, the hopeless, and the helpless. Help us to give generously during this season and not be selfish in our spending. Help us to think of the hungry, the lonely, the needy and to celebrate Christmas with them, by opening our hearts and our pockets! Make us proud to say like Mary – My soul praises the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!” In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

This devotion was written and read by Bernice Howard.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings,...

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Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. It is the time of year when we start to enjoy the many holiday traditions we've grown up with.

For me, one of those traditions is the movie "It's A Wonderful Life." I've lost count of how many times I have watched the movie, but I keep watching it. It is a Christmas tradition because it endures, and it endures because the story is excellent and its lessons are true.

Do you remember that moment in the movie when George Bailey stands on a bridge in the snow and thinks that his life has no value? He wishes that he had never existed. And then Clarence, the angel, shows him what Bedford Falls would be like if he had never been alive -- how his existence, his choices, and his sacrifices affected Bedford Falls in ways he never realized. He was the catalyst that made Bedford Falls exactly what it needed to be at the moment it needed to be.

"It's a Wonderful Life" tells a profound truth about timing and purpose. The Apostle Paul also wrote about the same subject in today's scripture. Paul states that God has perfect timing. He states that when the fullness of time came, not a moment too early, nor a moment too late, God sent his son.

What did Paul mean when he used the phrase "fullness of time?" The Roman Empire built roads connecting the known world, allowing people to travel in ways they never could before. Greek had become the universal language, and therefore, information and ideas traveled across the world at speeds previously unknown. The Jewish people had been awaiting their messiah for centuries and longed for redemption. And into this perfectly ripe moment, God sent Jesus—not as a conquering king, but as a newborn infant to an unmarried teenager living in an occupied land.

God did not send a theological treatise or a military leader. He sent his Son, born of a woman, totally human, and he experienced every aspect of being human. Born under the law that we cannot perfectly follow. And Why? So that he can redeem us—to purchase us back, to set us free.

Paul doesn't stop there. This is where Advent love becomes extremely personal. Not only are we redeemed, but we are adopted. We receive the rights of a child. In the Roman world, adopted children received the same rights as biological children -- they were full heirs, full members of the family. God did not simply deliver us from a bad situation; he brought us into his family.

When we respond to God's love, we are not only forgiven - we’re also changed. We become the children of God, siblings of Christ, and heirs of the Kingdom.

In Advent, we are preparing our hearts for Christmas through the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. And that love - that adopting, redeeming, perfect-timing love - that is the essence of Christmas. God looked upon humanity, lost and broken, and said, "I will send my Son. I will enter into their world. I will make them my children."

As you decorate your house with lights and present your gifts this season, remember: the greatest gift was not placed under a tree. It was placed in a manger. And that gift was not just about forgiveness - it was about family. God loved us enough that he did not just desire to save us; he desired to adopt us.

You are a child of God. You are an heir. You are a member of the family. That is the love of Advent.

Father, thank you for your perfect timing and your perfect love. Thank you for sending Jesus to redeem us and adopt us into your family. Help us live as your beloved children this Advent season. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Cliff