Read:
Luke 1:26–38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
Ponder:
In Scripture, we are told that angels have many roles. One role is being God’s messengers. Many of us recognize the angel Gabriel by name, particularly as it relates to the Christmas story.
In Scripture, Gabriel appears to at least three people, first to the prophet Daniel (Daniel 8:16); next to the priest Zechariah to foretell and announce the miraculous birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-20); and finally to the virgin Mary to tell her that she would conceive and bear a son (Luke 1:26-27).
In Luke 1:5-25, God sent Gabriel to tell Zechariah to tell of the news that his wife, Elizabeth, who was well past child-bearing years, would bear a son. Later in the same chapter, God sent Gabriel to tell Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God.
Gabriel’s name has tremendous significance and power. Gabriel means “God is great,” and, as the angel of the annunciation, he is the one who revealed that the Savior would be called Jesus. But Jesus isn’t the only baby Gabriel names; he also mentions John. When Gabriel startles Zechariah in the temple, he tells the priest to name his son John. In the midst of it all, every time Gabriel shows up in the Bible, he makes some mention of Jesus. Gabriel’s messages always point to the coming Messiah.
I believe we need more “Gabriels” in the world. Men and women, boys and girls, who, through their lives and through their lips, point to Jesus the Messiah. After Jesus’s resurrection, He commands us to go and make disciples of all nations—to bring the good news of Jesus to people all over the earth. (see Matthew 28:18-20).
A fellow campus minister that I admire and respect very much once told me that, regardless of what we do and where we are, our lives as believers should be spent demonstrating the gospel with every fiber of our being and declaring the gospel with every breath that we take.
God sent Gabriel to Daniel, Zechariah, and Mary to tell of the coming Messiah. He sends us to the world to tell of the crucified, risen, and returning Messiah. What a joy!
Practice:
Here is a great website that will help you learn how to share the gospel more effectively. While geared to college students and staffers, the principles here can be adjusted for anyone at any life stage. Please check out https://gospelappointments.com/.
