How would you feel if a rumor was started about you and everyone you know - friends, family, teachers, church members - heard the rumor and believed the worst about you?
Would you be angry? Would you be sad?
Or would you find the positive - the joy - in a painful and stressful situation?
The angel went to her (Mary) 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...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[b] the Son of God...For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:28-37
Mary wasn't much older than a JR. High student when God came to her through the Holy Spirit and she became pregnant with Jesus. She would have been naturally afraid and likely doubts about the days ahead of her loomed large, but her response upon finding out she would be an unwed mother was:
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:38
Mary took her fears and her doubts about the future and made them into faithful steps of obedience. She was likely still fearful of how the world would treat her, but she knew that she was faithfully acting upon God's behalf.
Sometimes in life we are faced with extremely difficult choices - and often the hardest choice is to be obedient to God. Obedience to God can be difficult, but ultimately we must be willing to make the sacrifices in life which will please God.
God calls for our obedience - our cheerful obedience - in all things. We have to trust that God, as our Heavenly Father, will provide the comfort when we are left out in the cold because of our obedience, just as He did with Mary through His providential care in providing her cousin Elizabeth's home during her pregnancy, Joseph's acceptance of Jesus and even the stable where she gave birth to Jesus.
Mary knew that she would one day be called blessed because of God's promises to her, but she also knew that she might never experience the worldly praise for her obedience in her lifetime. She wasn't concerned with the praise she would get from people; Mary's only concern was the joy she would bring her Father in Heaven by being joyful in her obedience to His call on her life.
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
Luke 1:46-55
Scripture of the Day
(I think you get the story...but if you want to read more...)
Quote of the Day
“True obedience is true freedom.”
Henry Ward Beecher
Question of the Day
How can you be joyfully obedient today?
Don't forget the JR. Choir program - this Sunday (December 11th) @ 6PM
Also - be on the look out for messages from your CPW (Confidential Prayer Warrior)...
For more info on the SEALed program see the below link:
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