An Advent Devotion: Believing God's Promises
A few years ago my pastor asked me to do the Advent devotion during worship for the third week of Advent. As I was reflecting on the story of Mary, a few questions came to mind.
What do Mary and I have in common?
Are there any similarities between me and this young girl who became the mother of Jesus?
The first thing that jumps off the page is FEAR!
When that angel appeared before Mary and told her that she was going to have a baby, and that baby's name was to be Jesus and He was going to be the Son of God . . . she was afraid. Probably first at the presence of the angel, but then as the message sunk in, so did the reality of it.
The Lord required something of Mary that seemed impossible and came with what could have been some very serious consequences.
Mary was now on a journey with the Lord just like you and I are. Sometimes He requires things of us that make this journey scary and full of unknowns and what we think are impossibilities. Maybe Mary asked herself the same questions that I do. Questions like:
What if I am rejected?
Will I be put to shame?
It wasn't supposed to be like this Lord! Why me?
But in her fear Mary obeyed, "Let it me according to your word," she said.
Mary's journey was not an easy one. As I walk with Jesus my journey, too, is not an easy one.
But when I keep reading about Mary, eventually I get to see the big picture of her journey. How in Mary's obedience, despite her fear, God's promise to send our Savior was fulfilled.
I don't get to see the big picture of my journey, not yet. It is still being written. But when I look at the faithfulness of God in the lives of people like Mary, I cling to God's promise that He will never leave me or forsake me on my journey. And because of this promise I can now boldly say, "The Lord is my Helper, I will not fear!" (Heb. 13:6)
So when those impossibilities arise on your journey . . . the little impossibilities that cause you to question how you are every going to make it through a hard day . . . or the big impossibilities that leave you asking questions like, "How is my heart every going to heal after that?" Remember the words that the angel Gabriel said to Mary, "For with God nothing will be impossible."
Merry Christmas!
Love, Rachael
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