With all the buzz of pro-life vs. pro-choice, it’s time we look into the Bible and seek to hear God’s voice, and learn …
Luke 1:26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ 32 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, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”
34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”
Gabriel appeared to Mary with amazing words of comfort, Rejoice, highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women. Despite Gabriel’s assurances, Mary was greatly troubled. After calming her fears Gabriel explained to her that she would bear a son. And her son would be the long Promised Messiah, (see Isaiah 9:6-7 and 2 Chronicles 7:16), who would occupy the throne of his father David… reigning over the house of David forever and reigning over the house of Jacob forever. Unlike Zacharias, Mary did not doubt Gabriel’s amazing promise. But she was curiously asking, How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?
Luke 1:35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
Because we have all inherited our sin nature from our first father, Adam, through one man sin entered the world and death through sin (Romans 5:12), in order to be the sinless, spotless, Lamb of God, the Messiah could not have a human father with a sin nature. That is why Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would implant heavenly DNA into Mary. The first man, Adam, became a living soul. The Last Adam, became a life giving Spirit. The first man is from the earth, the Second Man is from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:45-47)
In parting Gabriel informs Mary that her relative, Elizabeth, in answer to a promise of God, is six months pregnant.
Luke 1:36 Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” 38 Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Though perhaps not as dramatic as angels announcing the fulfillment of long prophesied promises, God is at work in the lives of every believer to accomplish His purposes. Are you willing to say with Mary, Let it be done to me according to your word? No matter how God directs our steps or weaves the tapestry of our lives, all believers should be the willing servants of our Lord.
Hearing the news of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Mary sets out to visit her.
Luke 1:39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, 40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”
When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s house Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to prophesy and the fetus, John, also filled with the Holy Spirit from conception (see Luke 1:15), leaped in Elizabeth’s womb. John’s appointed task was to prepare the way of the Lord (see Isaiah 40:3), and upon hearing Mary’s voice, he leaped for joy, in the presence of the unborn Messiah. And Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognized that the only weeks old fetus within Mary, was the Lord.
There is much contention in the world today about when life and personhood actually begin. Abortion advocates contend that the infant is not a person until after birth. They believe that because the child is just a group of cells or even a parasite in the host mother’s body, their infant may be sacrificed for the sake of convenience, economics, health or a myriad of other reasons. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Gods reveals through Luke that each child is a unique and valuable individual made in God’s image. The second trimester, John the Baptist, within his mother’s womb, filled with the Holy Spirit, hearing Mary’s voice and knowing that he was in the presence of the embryo Messiah, leaped for joy. Not only Elizabeth and Mary, but every mother is carrying in her womb a unique human being of inestimable value, with an immortal soul.
A woman raising her children is not only shaping the next generation, she is also shaping little humans who are going to live forever. The souls she gave birth to are immortal. Immortal. And somehow, our culture looks at a woman who treats that as if it might be an important task and says, “It’s a shame she’s wasting herself. She could be doing something important – like filing paperwork for insurance claims.” –Rebecca Merle, Eve in Exile: the Restoration of Femininity, Canon Press
Perhaps you have had an abortion or maybe you know someone who has had an abortion. You cannot go back in time and correct past mistakes, failures, and sins but the good news is that you can be forgiven. Jumping way ahead in the story we learn that Jesus made an incredible offer to every one who is carrying the burdens of their past.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29
In all of the other religions in the world you are required to do good works in a futile attempt to atone for your sins so that you may somehow earn the favor of the gods. But in Christianity the One True God, your Creator, has atoned for your past, for your sins, and freely offers you both forgiveness and life.
Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
1 Peter 3:18 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24
There is nothing you can do to change the past but through the grace of God you can be forgiven and find rest for your soul.
Those seeking to normalize abortion frequently use the slogan, “Abortion is health care,” however: The mother has no right to kill her son or daughter. She has been given the blessing and responsibility of raising and nurturing that child whether or not she perceives he or she may have a difficult life (she’s not a prophet). And by the very definition of healthcare, abortion is antithetical to that definition, which is to prevent and treat illness. Burning or dismembering a living child is not healthcare, it’s murder.
There is forgiveness for mothers who have done this, but there is no forgiveness outside of repentance and faith in Christ, meaning, you must first see this sin for what it truly is, murder. And then turn from your sin to Christ in faith believing that he can even save murderers. – Dave Griffin, TruthandGrace.net
If you have questions regarding this post or would like to talk to someone who will listen and pray with you, please send a comment. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
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