I love how Luke opens his gospel, making the point that he wanted to write an orderly account of the whole gospel story so that we might be certain about the things we read. In other words, if you want to understand the story properly you really need to know the whole story from end to end so that you see how all the pieces fit together. That was Luke’s aim.

Clearly God was intent on honouring the work of the prophets of old. In the first angelic visit of this passage Zechariah is told, while he was serving as priest in the Temple of the Lord. The inner part of the temple, the holy of holies, the place where priests would only go after spending a long time in preparation. ‘Your wife will conceive a child in her old age and he is going to be the forerunner of the one who is yet to come.’ Poor old Zechariah couldn’t get his head around it and had some questions, his doubt leaving him mute for a time. But, then it happened. Elizabeth fell pregnant with John the Baptist fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 40 (See Is. 40:1-5).

6 months later the angels were busy again appearing to Mary this time to tell her that she was going to become pregnant with the Saviour of the world. This time the response was a little different. Mary famously responded, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (v.38). Her faithfulness to the call of God has inspired millions over the generations.

Whether we recognise it or not we are all called to serve God in some way. He may not always approach us by sending an angel to talk to us in person but He does guide and instruct through the Bible (His word), through the Holy Spirit (Who will nudge us from time to time), through the counsel of others (I’ve had many people say the same thing to me independently in a short space of time) and sometimes by signs that He sets up in front of us that guide us. However He does it it’s up to us to decide how we’re going to respond. In other words, will we be like Mary and respond willingly and faithfully or more like Zechariah responding cautiously with lots of questions and problems? On balance it seems God prefers a Mary response I’d say.

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Question:

Do you recognise it when God’s speaking to you? DO you hear His voice as your read scripture? Do you sense His Holy Spirit nudging you or do you notice the pattern of things happening around you as people talk to you or God places signs in front of you? How do you respond?

Prayer:

Lord God, open my eyes to see, my ears to hear and my heart to receive the fulness of Your word. Amen.