Introduction

Good morning, beloved family in Christ. As we gather here today, we are bound by a shared faith, a shared hope, and a shared love. We are united by the knowledge that we are all children of a loving and merciful God, brought together by His grace and mercy. Our purpose here is not only to worship Him but to grow in our understanding of His word and His will for us.

Today, we'll be turning our hearts and minds to the book of Luke, specifically Luke 1:26-38. This passage, so rich in divine truth and human emotion, tells the story of the Angel Gabriel's visit to Mary. Let's read this together [read text].

This is the word of the Lord.

As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded of the profound truth that God's ways are not our ways. His plans are not our plans. His timing is not our timing. We are reminded of the words of Charles Spurgeon who once said, "Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the windows which hope has opened."

Today, we will consider three main points: Blind Spots in Belief, Bearing the Vulnerability of Divine Love, and Breaking Chains with Truth. In each of these, we will see how Mary's story is not just a historical account but a roadmap for our own faith journey.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your word, for the truths it holds and the promises it makes. As we reflect on the story of Mary, may we see our own faith journeys mirrored in hers. Help us to recognize our blind spots in belief, to bear the vulnerability of Your divine love, and to break chains with Your truth. Open our hearts and our minds to Your word today, and guide us in our understanding. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Blind Spots in Belief

When we think about Mary's encounter with Gabriel, we can't help but notice her initial reaction. She was "greatly troubled" by his greeting. This wasn't a casual unease or mild confusion. The original Greek word used here suggests a deep, profound disturbance. It's the same word used to describe the disciples' terror when they saw Jesus walking on water. Mary was deeply unsettled.

Why? Because Gabriel's message didn't fit with her understanding of the world. It didn't align with her expectations. It didn't make sense. She had a blind spot in her belief. We all have blind spots in our beliefs. These are the areas where our understanding of God's character, His promises, and His plans are incomplete or incorrect. They're the places where we struggle to trust Him, where we doubt His goodness or His power. They're the areas where we try to limit Him, to put Him in a box that fits our human understanding.

Mary's blind spot was her understanding of what was possible. She couldn't comprehend how she, a virgin, could conceive a child. But God doesn't operate within our human limitations. He isn't bound by our understanding of what's possible. When Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive a child, he both announced the birth of Jesus and challenged her blind spot. He was inviting her to expand her understanding of what God could do. And isn't that what faith is all about? Believing in the impossible? Trusting that God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine?

When Gabriel greeted Mary, he called her "highly favoured". This wasn't a casual compliment. It was a profound affirmation of her worth in God's eyes. But Mary was troubled by this greeting. She couldn't understand why she would be highly favoured. Mary couldn't comprehend why God would choose her, a humble girl from Nazareth. It didn't make sense. But God doesn't operate within our human limitations. He isn't bound by our understanding of who is worthy.

Application. As we reflect on Mary's encounter with Gabriel, we are challenged to identify our own blind spots in belief. We are invited to expand our understanding of what God can do, who we are, what He wants from us, and how He communicates with us. We are asked to believe in the impossible, in our worth, in the goodness of His will, and in the intimacy of His communication. And as we do, we will find that our faith grows, our trust deepens, and our relationship with God becomes more intimate.

Transition. So let's embrace our blind spots. Let's welcome our doubts. Let's ask our questions. And let's trust that as we do, God will meet us in our confusion, our uncertainty, and our fear. He will guide us, reassure us, and help us to see Him more clearly. And in the process, He will transform our blind spots into windows of faith, through which we can see His character, His promises, and His plans more clearly.

Bearing the Vulnerability of Divine Love

As we continue to reflect on the story of Mary, we find ourselves amid a divine love that is vulnerable and transformative ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO