From the Edges – Over Shadowed – Morning Devotional

FROM THE EDGES – Morning Devotions –
Over Shadowed
Pastor Calvin Cook – May 15, 2024
Scripture focus – Luke 1:35 – “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’”

I have listened to the excitement and apprehensiveness of some of the young people who are graduating from High School and College this year. We are starting to see some pictures of the celebration of this milestone in many different places. I remembered back to my senior year of high school and the pictures that were taken to commemorate my senior year of high school. We didn’t experience the same modernization of photography that is associated with today. We had four poses taken and we were given small examples to pick one that would be placed in the yearbook and adorn walls, shelves, and other venues for years to come. One of my four poses had bad shadowing making my face look like it was divided into two skin tones. I guess you could say I looked two faced.

The question for me this morning is, what is overshadowing us and how is it making us look. I am not inferring by an earthly or human look, I am asking seriously how are we looking in our relationship with Jesus. Do we look hopeful, joyful, refreshed, all attributes of the Holy Spirit or do we have a look of oppression, depression, anxiety, unsteadiness and so much more that defines our persona.

The overshadowing of the Most High is very dependent on choices we make. When Jesus becomes our one needful thing (Luke 10:41-42) and is at the top of our priority list, we will start to look like what or who we hang out with the most. Do we resemble Jesus or the world?

In the announcement of the birth of Jesus to Mary, the angel of the Lord announces that Mary has been the one chosen for this very history making, eternity changing responsibility to foster the birth of the most high God. God coming to earth in the form of a baby. Mary showed reluctance just as we do when we are called to the important work of God. Mary was chosen because “ she had found favor with God.” (Luke 1:30). Mary received the anointed appointment for her life.

Our life becomes contingent on where we will stand on our faith journey. What we will choose to focus on and how we will choose to walk in the way of the Lord. Some are oppressed by the things of the world and can’t change that. But what we choose in the inner depths of our lives renews us to a point of sanctification, moves us out of the shadows of this day and age and its situations into a brighter hope and closer relationship overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. I’m praying for that experience, praying for that for myself and for you.