Devotions

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great…

“He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there…

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to…

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will…

“Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’ For the Lord’s hand was with him.” (Luke 1:66, NIV84) The birth of John the Baptist had occurred. The family all thought that the child should be named Zechariah after his father. Why was the family involved? Well, in…

“Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.” (Luke 1:56, NIV84) So, it appears that Mary stayed with Elizabeth for the remainder of Elizabeth’s pregnancy and left just before John was born. Mary, finishing her first trimester, went back home. Back to reality. Have you ever been on a mission trip?…

“He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” (Luke 1:54–55, NIV84) These verses are found in the middle of Mary’s song. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Mary broke into a prophetic song about God’s faithfulness. The thing that strikes me is…

“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women,…

“’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.” (Luke 1:38, NIV84) It has taken me way too long to write a devotion for this verse. It’s not that thoughts and ideas aren’t floating through my mind. It’s that the thoughts haunt my…

““How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have…