Mary, the mother of Jesus, was living an ordinary life, going about her daily routines, preparing for her marriage that had likely been prearranged. An encounter with God changed all of that. Right in the middle of Mary’s carefully planned life, God sent the angel Gabriel with a greeting and a message. The greeting? “Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.” (Luke 1: 28 MB) Astounded by this greeting, Mary was then told she would become pregnant with the messiah. In awe and wonder, she asked how that could be possible since she was a virgin. The message? “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you;  Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.” (Luke 1:35 MB) Mary said, “Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.” (Luke 1:38 MB)

Like Mary, God has visited our church family with a greeting and a message. Greeting? The same greeting he gave Gideon in Judges 6:12  “God is with you, O mighty warriors!” His seed was planted in our hearts several years ago. Like the baby Jesus in his mother’s womb, that seed has been growing, developing, expanding! Though we have been shaking our heads in wonder and amazement because we are such a small band, we have heard the message. We have truly welcomed Him! We have said YES to his call. The Holy Spirit has come upon us! The power of the Highest hovers over us. Everything changes when God is born among us.

Scripture: Luke 1:26-56

“When God is Born” preached by Elder Arlene Salt on December 23rd, 2017 at the Mount Vernon Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mount Vernon, Washington