“For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
There are two ways to approach the subject of God’s power. There is the theological approach: a presentation of God’s power in theological terms. The systematic theology books present God’s power under the heading “The omnipotence of God”.
When it comes to God’s omnipotence we affirm our belief: like a definition of some sort. We know the definition of God’s omnipotence.
But when we are faced with certain events, it appears that we forget the definition of God’s omnipotence and our reaction mirrors Mary’s reasoning, “Lord, if You were here my brother would not have died” (John 11:24). In other words, “Jesus I know You are the Lord of life, but Lazarus is dead.” What do we do now?”
In Mary’s case (Luke 1:26-38), the power of the Lord came not as a definition but as a reality that changed her life.
The first aspect of the Lord’s power in Mary’s life was its gentleness.
It was a gentle power…ask Elijah.
“After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper” (1Kings 19:12).
Another wonderful example of God’s gentle power comes to us from Jesus’s words. Although spoken against a rebellious city, nevertheless they reflect God’s gentle power. Listen, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34). A picture of a gentle, protective power.
The angel came with a message from the Most High, but he had a greeting, before anything else. “…Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28).
The Most High…the Most Powerful sent Mary a greeting!
May we, too, hear the greeting of our heavenly Father, before anything else.