Embracing Humility: The Faith of Mary and Elizabeth

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Divine Plans with Humility

Mary and Elizabeth's stories in Luke chapter one reveal the profound power of humility and faith. Despite societal norms and personal challenges, both women trusted in God's plan for their lives. Mary, a young girl, accepted the angel's message with grace, saying, "May it be to me as you have said," even though it meant facing potential misunderstanding and shame. Elizabeth, an older woman who had been barren, also embraced her miraculous pregnancy with faith. Their stories teach us that true strength comes from reliance on God, and embracing humility allows us to be open to His work in our lives, even when it seems absurd or unexpected. [42:49]

Luke 1:38 (ESV): "And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you feel inadequate or unprepared. How can you humbly accept God's plan and trust in His strength today?

Day 2: The Reversal of Worldly Values

The concept of God's upside-down kingdom challenges our worldly expectations by lifting the humble and bringing down the proud. This reversal invites us to reevaluate our values and priorities, encouraging us to pursue humility, mercy, and generosity. By embracing this upside-down kingdom, we align ourselves with God's transformative work in the world. It calls us to reject pride and embrace mercy, sharing our lives and resources with those in need. [50:21]

1 Samuel 2:7-8 (ESV): "The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where pride has taken root. How can you actively choose humility and generosity in that area today?

Day 3: Finding Strength in Our Weaknesses

Recognizing our limitations and weaknesses is the first step toward experiencing God's strength. Like Mary, who humbly accepted her role, we are called to trust that God's strength will sustain us through life's challenges. Our faith, even if small, can lead to extraordinary outcomes when placed in God's hands. This understanding encourages us to lean into our weaknesses, knowing that God's power is made perfect in them. [01:00:35]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: What is one weakness you struggle with? How can you invite God to show His strength through it today?

Day 4: The Transformative Power of Blessing

Elizabeth's blessing of Mary highlights the importance of speaking life and encouragement into others. In a world quick to judge and shame, we are called to bless and uplift those around us, recognizing the divine potential in each person. Our words have the power to affirm God's promises and bring hope to the marginalized. This act of blessing not only transforms others but also aligns us with God's heart for His people. [51:36]

Proverbs 16:24 (ESV): "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."

Reflection: Who in your life needs encouragement today? How can you intentionally speak words of blessing and affirmation to them?

Day 5: Living Out Our Faith Through Action

Preparing for the coming of Christ involves a daily commitment to live out our faith through acts of love and service. By sharing our resources, comforting the brokenhearted, and lifting up the downtrodden, we embody the love of Christ and magnify the Lord with our lives. This active faith transforms us and those we encounter, making the presence of Christ known in the world. [01:01:19]

James 2:17 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can serve someone in need today? How can this act of service reflect your faith in Christ?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound story of two women, Mary and Elizabeth, as depicted in Luke chapter one. These women, though marginalized in their society, were chosen by God to play pivotal roles in the unfolding of His divine plan. Mary, a young girl, was visited by an angel and told she would bear the Son of God. Despite the potential for misunderstanding and societal shame, her response was one of humility and faith: "May it be to me as you have said." Elizabeth, on the other hand, was an older woman who had long been barren, yet she too was blessed with a miraculous pregnancy. Together, these women exemplify the strength found in faith and humility.

The narrative challenges us to consider how we prepare for the coming of Christ, not just during the Advent season, but throughout our lives. It invites us to embrace our weaknesses and trust in God's strength, recognizing that our own efforts are often insufficient. The story of Mary and Elizabeth is a testament to the upside-down nature of God's kingdom, where the humble are lifted, and the proud are brought low. It calls us to pursue humility, reject pride, and embrace mercy, sharing our lives and resources with those in need.

As we reflect on this story, we are reminded that faith, even as small as a mustard seed, can change the world. The birth of Jesus, a child born to an ordinary girl, is a powerful reminder of God's ability to work through the unexpected and the marginalized. We are encouraged to lean into this upside-down kingdom, to magnify the Lord with our lives, and to trust that He will provide the strength we need to endure whatever lies ahead.

Key Takeaways

1. Down Kingdom:** God's kingdom often defies worldly expectations, lifting the humble and bringing down the proud. This reversal challenges us to reevaluate our values and priorities, encouraging us to pursue humility, mercy, and generosity. By embracing this upside-down kingdom, we align ourselves with God's transformative work in the world. [50:21]
3. Strength in Weakness: Recognizing our limitations and weaknesses is the first step toward experiencing God's strength. Like Mary, who humbly accepted her role, we are called to trust that God's strength will sustain us through life's challenges. Our faith, even if small, can lead to extraordinary outcomes when placed in God's hands.

4. The Power of Blessing: Elizabeth's blessing of Mary highlights the importance of speaking life and encouragement into others. In a world quick to judge and shame, we are called to bless and uplift those around us, recognizing the divine potential in each person. Our words have the power to affirm God's promises and bring hope to the marginalized.

5. Living Out Our Faith: Preparing for the coming of Christ involves a daily commitment to live out our faith through acts of love and service. By sharing our resources, comforting the brokenhearted, and lifting up the downtrodden, we embody the love of Christ and magnify the Lord with our lives. This active faith transforms us and those we encounter.

** [50:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - New Members Introduction
[02:30] - Preparing for Christmas
[04:15] - The Story of Mary and Elizabeth
[08:00] - The Angel's Message to Mary
[12:30] - Mary's Response of Faith
[16:45] - Elizabeth's Miraculous Pregnancy
[21:00] - The Role of Women in Society
[25:30] - The Upside-Down Kingdom
[30:00] - Embracing Humility and Faith
[35:15] - The Power of Blessing
[40:00] - Living Out Our Faith
[45:00] - Strength in Weakness
[50:00] - Conclusion and Prayer
[52:00] - Closing Song and Prayer Invitation

Sermon Clips

"Either he's impatient or he's a victim. Even the best. People among these, this little community was about to be put to the test. But for some reason, Mary doesn't resist it. She doesn't complain. She doesn't say anything except, may your word to me be fulfilled. Either this is a girl who doesn't quite understand what's about to happen, or it's a girl who has a lot of faith." [00:42:40] (30 seconds)

"Mary, on the other hand, was very young, had yet to start her life. And if you look at the tradition, she was kind of, in some ways, even though they loved her, she was kind of akin to property. She was given or taken in marriage. That's what happens to women back then. Given or taken in marriage. She had yet to begin her life." [00:48:45] (23 seconds)

"These two women, although years apart, were suddenly given a new and uncertain future. Although it was a God-ordained future. What's interesting is that these two women bore the messenger and the message. The message of God. So in that day and age, who were the messengers? They were young men, skilled in arts of conflict and diplomacy and educated and literate." [00:49:36] (36 seconds)

"Servants became priests for the day. The lowest person was the lowest priest. The lowest person was crowned pope. There was another low person crowned king. People gave comical sermons and speeches and obviously were doing things just a little bit absurdly. And people, over the hundreds of years that they did this, they became quite foolish, all of it, and very absurd." [00:51:20] (25 seconds)

"those people who were in charge and the reversal of roles started to disrupt the status quo this is where we get mardi gras and some of those other crazy outlandish things that we do today but the literal upside downing started to offend some very important people so they just squashed it and it found its way through other areas and for us it's like well that's crazy of course it is this is what god was doing through mary and elizabeth it's really kind of absurd in some ways in this first chapter of luke we see a mute priest who's supposed to be the voice of god to the people but instead of prophesying or speaking on behalf of god it's his wife who blesses why because he doubted and his wife believed it is elizabeth who speaks it is elizabeth who speaks it is elizabeth who speaks it is elizabeth who speaks it is elizabeth is elizabeth who blesses she says blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear but why am i so favored that the mother of my lord should come to me as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears the baby in my womb leaped for joy blessed is she who believe who has believed that the lord will fulfill his promises to her now unwed mothers are usually cursed right you know that's the typical way it's been in our country and it was the way it was in their country you know this is still the case in some instances people will go overboard to shame unwed mothers they will refuse to bless them or to help them or to shower them with necessities for their life because they just want them to sit there and think about what they've done i want them to suffer a little bit so they don't do it again and then i ask myself would we have blessed mary or would we have cursed her would we have believed her outlandish story of course mary wasn't cursed there's no words in humanity that could curse someone that god has blessed and she was blessed in that upside down kingdom she was blessed among all women a young girl suddenly thrust into this dangerous situation she has to be blessed and she has to be chosen quickly on how she's going to handle the coming events would she have the strength to do it i mean none of us know what's in store we don't know what's in store once we leave this room and even if we did we may realize rather quickly we may not have the strength to manage it i will tell you many times our strength is never enough we may try but it's like we're spinning our wheels i ask our ai video creator to create something for me um opening a ribbon on a present and this is what it gave me right here it's just a little odd right there's no present it's just fingers unwrapping a bow and nothing's happening sometimes i feel like this in my life no matter how hard i try nothing changes nothing happens it's like i'm spinning my wheels to unwrap something unknown you know mary didn't do that she didn't just say hey i got this gabe i'm good i'm strong enough no in humility what she said is may it be to me as you have said god lifts up the humble in this whole upside down world there's in james it says he gives us more grace that is why scripture says god opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble the proud being those people who may say i'm i've got it i'm good i'm strong enough i can manage on my own what james is telling us god opposes those people but he lifts up the poor the lowly the weak the humble and we see it whenever this young girl who is probably illiterate is suddenly wildly eloquent and her speech drips with tenderness and courage and poetry and just hear how this song might have sounded you" [00:51:56] (0 seconds)

"What's fascinating is that this eloquent scripture, this song that has been sung over and over since that was printed it echoes Moses' song back in Exodus chapter 12 when they escape Egypt never to be seen again. never to be seen again. never to be enslaved again. Moses was a man of faith who trusted God even when an entire nation set his face against him and he not only believed but he still followed God." [00:58:59] (34 seconds)

"You start by embracing your weakness. You start by embracing your weakness. You know without a shadow of a doubt that whatever lay in store for you that whatever lay in store for you God loves you and has got you. What is the scripture? The Lord is my strength and my song. The Lord is my strength and my song. Exodus 15 -2 He has become my salvation." [00:59:51] (23 seconds)

"Lean into this upside down kingdom of God. Pursue humility. Reject pride and self-indulgence. Embrace mercy. Fill the stomachs of the hungry as Mary says. Share yourself. Share your stuff. Share your life with the poor. Comfort those who are poor in spirit. Lift them up with your words and actions and attention." [01:00:57] (23 seconds)

"Prepare for the coming of Jesus from the inside out. Respond to God like Mary did who said I am the Lord's servant may it be to me as you have said. And I encourage you to believe that even now. We know what Jesus has said about those who believe in him. You are the beloved of God. He's got your back." [01:01:30] (28 seconds)

"To live your life and keep getting up every morning knowing that he is with you. Go about your life knowing that he will give you the strength that you need to endure whatever is coming. Because faith is knowing that our strength is really his strength. And when we embrace this you know what's going to happen? Our souls will magnify the Lord." [01:02:09] (25 seconds)

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