Surprises!

“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,” - Luke 1:11-14

“The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end. ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’” - Luke 1: 28-34

This time of year is full of surprises; whether it be a gift, a card in the mail, or a visit from a friend or family member. Everyone loves getting surprises, and giving surprises makes us feel good. In today’s two verses there is a common theme… surprises, of course! The angel, Gabriel, surprised Mary and Zechariah with great news- they will be the parents of special babies. These two people had something in common. They both were not expecting children. Mary was a young virgin, who wasn’t married yet, and Zechariah was old, and his wife, Elizabeth, was past child-bearing years. These examples show us how miraculous God’s works are and how amazing God’s surprises can be… to the people who least expect it.

Prayer

Dear God, Thank you for all the gifts and surprises I have gotten. Thank you for giving us the ultimate gift, Your son, Jesus. Amen

Suggested Activity

Surprise a friend, family member, or someone random! Make them a card, bake them a treat, or do something kind for them. Your kindness can go a long way. Tell me about it on the activity discussion board!