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Day Twenty Nine - Hope in the promises of God


On this first Sunday in Advent, what are your hopes for this Christmas Season?


Let us look at Mary’s Story:


Do you remember being a 15-year-old? For some this may only be a few years ago, while for others it may be a lifetime ago! So let us try and remember. What is important to a typical 15-year-old? They will be dealing with hormones and peer pressure, trying to test the waters of life. They may be looking forward to independence, trying to think of the future, exams, universities, careers, the list goes on.


Now let us look at Mary, scholars tell us she was around 15 years of age at the time the Angel visited her to tell her the news that she was to become the mother of God’s own Son. She was already mapping out a future life for herself with Joseph. All was about to change.


If you were that age and received life changing news like Mary, how would you respond? Let us read from the Gospel of Luke and see how Mary responded.


And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Luke 1 v 46-55


Marys immediate response was to sing this song of praise to God, a song of worship straight from her heart. She accepted that she was God’s servant, she realised that God was in charge, and she submitted her life to him.


Mary put her hope in the promises of God.


She undoubtedly knew the scriptures, she would have heard the stories passed down through the family from generation to generation of a God who had promised a Saviour, a Messiah. She knew that God was faithful. She knew that one born of the seed of Abraham would come to save people from their sins. She realised that she had been chosen, of all the women who had ever lived, to be the mother of that child.


That first coming of Christ brought hope to the world, and so will his second coming. Jesus has promised that one day he will return. One day Jesus will come and take us, His Church, to live with him forever and ever. That is you and I if we are in Christ, if we know him in a personal way. He is coming back for us. If you have a personal relationship with Him, you too can have hope for an eternal future, because He loves you.


Mary put her hope in the promises of God. This Christmas let us also put our hope in the baby born for us and who will return again to give us eternal hope.


Julie Burnett

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