We are close enough to Christmas to feel its anticipation — but not yet close enough to celebrate its fulfillment.
We are living in the in-between.
- The gifts are wrapped. The plans are mostly made. The decorations are up.
And yet… there is still waiting.
Scripture is honest about this space — because the first Christmas was lived in it.
For centuries, God’s people lived between promise and fulfillment:
- Promises spoken to Abraham,
- Echoed through David,
- Repeated by the prophets,
- Longed for by generations who never lived to see the manger.
They believed God would act — they just didn’t know when or how.
And that’s where many of us are today.
Not just before Christmas — but in life.
- Waiting for answers.
- Waiting for healing.
- Waiting for clarity.
- Waiting for God to move.
This Sunday is not about rushing past the waiting — it’s about learning how to wait with faith, hope, and trust, knowing that God is always faithful to keep His word.
The Message
📖 LUKE 1:26–38 (NIV)
Theme: Faithful surrender between promise and fulfillment
SECTION 1 — God Enters the Ordinary
Luke 1:26–29 (NIV)
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
Cross Reference
- 1 Corinthians 1:27–28 – “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise… the lowly things of this world and the despised things… so that no one may boast before him.”
Why We Struggle
We often assume God works through importance, visibility, and influence. When life feels ordinary or unnoticed, we question whether God is truly at work.
Why Mary Did Not Struggle
Mary did not assume obscurity meant insignificance. Though surprised, she did not dismiss the possibility that God could work through her ordinary life.
Know This
God’s presence is not dependent on prominence. He often begins His greatest work in unnoticed places.
Response of the Believer
- Remain attentive to God in ordinary seasons.
- Trust that faithfulness matters more than visibility.
SECTION 2 — God’s Favor Includes Responsibility
Luke 1:30–33 (NIV)
30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High… 33 and his kingdom will never end.”
Cross Reference
- Isaiah 9:6–7 – “For to us a child is born… and the government will be on his shoulders… Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.”
Why We Struggle
We often equate God’s favor with comfort, ease, and affirmation. When obedience brings cost, confusion, or sacrifice, we question whether God is truly blessing us.
Why Mary Did Not Struggle
Mary did not confuse favor with comfort. She accepted that God’s favor could include misunderstanding, sacrifice, and risk.
Know This
God’s favor does not remove difficulty — it assigns divine purpose to it.
Response of the Believer
- Trust God’s purposes even when they disrupt comfort.
- Measure favor by faithfulness, not ease.
SECTION 3 — Faith Can Ask Honest Questions
Luke 1:34 (NIV)
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Cross Reference
- Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Why We Struggle
We fear that questions reveal weak faith. We either suppress honest concerns or allow them to become doubt and withdrawal.
Why Mary Did Not Struggle
Mary’s question was not rooted in disbelief but in submission. She was not asking if God could do it, but how He would do it.
Know This
God welcomes questions that seek understanding, not escape.
Response of the Believer
- Bring honest questions to God in humility.
- Let questions deepen trust rather than erode it.
SECTION 4 — God’s Power Transcends Human Limitation
Luke 1:35–37 (NIV)
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you… 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age… 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
Cross Reference
- Genesis 18:14 – “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”
The verse reminds us that God’s promises are not limited by human weakness, time, or biology. What seems impossible to people is entirely possible with God.
Why We Struggle
We measure God’s promises by logic, probability, and precedent. When outcomes seem impossible, our confidence falters.
Why Mary Did Not Struggle
Mary accepted God’s power without demanding proof. She trusted God’s Word more than her limitations.
Know This
Impossibility is not a barrier to God — it is often the setting for His glory.
Response of the Believer
- Trust God’s Word even when outcomes seem impossible.
- Recall past faithfulness as assurance for present trust.
SECTION 5 — Surrender Is the Proper Response to God’s Will
Luke 1:38 (NIV)
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Cross Reference
- Romans 12:1 – “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Why We Struggle
We want clarity before commitment and assurance before obedience. We delay surrender until conditions feel safe.
Why Mary Did Not Struggle
Mary surrendered without guarantees. She trusted God’s character more than she needed control of the outcome.
Know This
Faith is not understanding everything — it is trusting the God who does.
Response of the Believer
- Offer your will fully to God.
- Obey even when the future is unclear.
- Pray: “Lord, let Your word be fulfilled in me.”
THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY
Luke 1:26–38 reveals:
- God’s sovereign initiative in salvation
- The divine work of the Holy Spirit in the incarnation
- The fulfillment of ancient promises through humble obedience
- Surrender as the posture that receives God’s redemptive work
Mary stands as a model of faithful surrender in the in-between.
🔑 Pastoral Emphasis for the Congregation
Mary did not have more information than we do — she simply trusted God more than she trusted herself.
Three Reflections for the Week Before Christmas
1. Where do I need to trust God more than I need certainty?
Mary did not have all the answers—only a promise. This week, reflect on where you are waiting for clarity instead of choosing trust. Ask God for a heart that rests in His character, even when the outcome is unknown.
“May your word to me be fulfilled.” — Luke 1:38
2. What ordinary moment might God be inviting me to see as holy?
God entered the world through an ordinary young woman in an ordinary town. As you go about routines—shopping, working, caring for family—pause and ask where God might be present and at work in the everyday.
“The Lord is with you.” — Luke 1:28
3. How can I practice surrender instead of control this week?
The days before Christmas often feel rushed and demanding. Instead of trying to manage everything perfectly, practice surrender—through prayer, gratitude, and slowing your pace. Let your yes to God shape your response to people and pressures.
“I am the Lord’s servant.” — Luke 1:38
Closing Thought for the Week
Christmas does not begin with celebration—it begins with trust. This week, let faith shape your waiting.