This weeks passage is in
Luke 1:26-38 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, (27) to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. (28) And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." (29) But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. (30) The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. (31) "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. (32) "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; (33) and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." (34) Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" (35) The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. (36) "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. (37) "For nothing will be impossible with God." (38) And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Some of my beginning thought s and questions are as follow:
1. Mary is a virgin. This fulfills the prophesy in Isaiah 7:14. It speaks of God's faithfulness and God's miraculous working to bring about His plans in the world. Is God asking you to do anything today that seems beyond the realms of possibilities?
2. Why does the angel say do not be afraid? Is it the his appearance is so great that she is trembling? It seems if this where the case he would have said this first. Perhaps, he is telling her not to be afraid of what is going to happen. What do you fear God is asking you to do? How do the words, "nothing will be impossible with God" comfort you?
3. What holds us back from saying, "may it be done to me according to your word."
Guess I hadn't thought of his "do not be afraid" comment as a comfort for the future (as opposed to seeing fear in Mary right then). But, it does make sense, especially since my answer to your third question "What holds me back from saying 'may it be done according to your word'?" would be: FEAR. Fear of the unknown, fear of going through the same pain that I have felt in the past . . .
ReplyDeleteWhat do I fear God will ask me to do? Something outside of my comfort zone. hahaha (or something that will cause me pain) All selfish answers, huh?
But experience has taught me that God is there through the pain and He knows what is good, better, best for me (more than I do) so . . . Lord, may it be done to me according to Your word!