| DAY 9 |
You have found favor
with God!
MARY HAD A BABY
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As a slave in the American South, Mary Gaffney feared having children. By law, her child could be sold away. Or she could be sold away from her child. This fearsome reality for enslaved women and their children in America adds special poignancy to the African-American spiritual Christmas song “Mary Had a
Baby.” Thought to have originated in the slave community in the South Carolina island of St. Helena in the 1700s, the song creates “a heightened sense of dignity,” as one source says, honoring the biblical Mary and her newborn child despite their humble situation.
“Laid Him in a manger,” says the song. “Traveled on a donkey,” adds the lyric. But “people keep a-comin’” to Him—because of who
He is as affirmed by His brave mother.
The angel Gabriel announces to Mary—“Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you” (LUKE 1:28). Mary was troubled by his words (V. 29), not understanding them. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son.” Indeed, “He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High And he will reign over Israel
forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (VV. 30–33).
But first, Jesus was a baby. His mother was a courageous peasant. And His birth in such humble circumstances forever changed all of us.
PATRICIA RAYBON
After a child is born, how can a mother bestow him or her with dignity? How can you convey to them godly love?
Dear God, help me dignify new mothers by showing them and their children Your love.
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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE | LUKE 1:26–38
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, .
27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.
28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord
is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.
37 For the word of God will never fail.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
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