The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you [Mary], and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."
—Luke 1:35 NIV
Jesus is the Son of God and holy because he was conceived in the womb of Mary through the power of the Most High, revealed to us as the Holy Spirit. This conception is not something we can understand logically. It is something we recognize as a miracle of God's power and reflective of God's divine love. Even believing in this miraculous conception is possible only as both a gift and a miracle of God's grace and comes from the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts. If we believe that Jesus is God come in human flesh, we know that the truth of this story had to begin in a miracle that is both incomprehensible and yet very simple. God took on human flesh as a baby named Jesus. This baby was conceived and carried in the womb of an ordinary young woman. This miracle of conception reveals the character and compassion of the Most High God to bridge the distance from his heavenly perfection to our human mortality. While we may not fully understand it, we can receive its truth by grace. Let's ask the Holy Spirit who brought this miracle to Mary to open our hearts to this miracle and join with all who share the wonder of God's love, mercy, and grace.
O Father, the One True and Almighty God, I ask that the Holy Spirit that conceived Jesus in Mary deepen my faith and awaken my sense of joy and amazement for the gift of Jesus' birth. I ask for this grace in Jesus' name. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2020 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
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—Luke 1:35 NIV
Key Thought
Jesus is the Son of God and holy because he was conceived in the womb of Mary through the power of the Most High, revealed to us as the Holy Spirit. This conception is not something we can understand logically. It is something we recognize as a miracle of God's power and reflective of God's divine love. Even believing in this miraculous conception is possible only as both a gift and a miracle of God's grace and comes from the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts. If we believe that Jesus is God come in human flesh, we know that the truth of this story had to begin in a miracle that is both incomprehensible and yet very simple. God took on human flesh as a baby named Jesus. This baby was conceived and carried in the womb of an ordinary young woman. This miracle of conception reveals the character and compassion of the Most High God to bridge the distance from his heavenly perfection to our human mortality. While we may not fully understand it, we can receive its truth by grace. Let's ask the Holy Spirit who brought this miracle to Mary to open our hearts to this miracle and join with all who share the wonder of God's love, mercy, and grace.
Today's Prayer
O Father, the One True and Almighty God, I ask that the Holy Spirit that conceived Jesus in Mary deepen my faith and awaken my sense of joy and amazement for the gift of Jesus' birth. I ask for this grace in Jesus' name. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2020 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Continue reading...