Having a Heart in a Sometimes Heartless World
Scripture focus: In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, beautiful inside and out! God be with you. She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.' The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob's house forever— no end, ever, to his kingdom." Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man." The angel answered, the Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God. "And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God." And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me
just as you say. Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38 The Message
This week we have considered what kind of road we’re traveling – the busy, hustling highway of trying to get our own way all the time, or the little back roads of living life God’s way. These devotionals offered some suggested clues as to how to determine what road you might be on. Like well-placed road signs – there are symptoms in our life that help direct us to the truth about how we’re living.
Regular contact with scripture and a pair of really big listening ears were offered up as prerequisites for the God-centered life. Even with these resources, I know how hard it is to make a decision to strike off on a poorly traveled path with few people to follow. So can I offer you another word of encouragement?
Reread today’s focal passage. Notice how the Lord provided Mary with comfort. Make a note of what he promised her. He didn’t provide her with a completed road map to living her life in a satisfying manner – but he did give her a reason to keep stepping. He assured her – “Mary, you have nothing to fear.”
Mary will continue on her own personal journey. And as we continue to read scripture, we will discover moments when Mary’s life doesn’t always go peachy. When Jesus is twelve, Mary’s going to lose him in a big city. This is going to cause quite the upset and a wasted day’s travel. She will brow beat Jesus to perform his first miracle – changing water into wine at a wedding feast. There will come a day when Jesus redefines family, while Mary hovers anxiously outside the home where he is speaking. She will witness her boy’s crucifixion. Life for Mary won’t be easy. But she’s told not to fear. How can this be?
Following God will require us to deal with all sorts of paradoxes and problems – but through it all, the same attitude presented to Mary by God’s representative is offered to us – fear not. Fearful experiences will happen – but they won’t have to define us. May we become a people who can live through fearful times without becoming overwhelmed by them!
You have completed three hundred forty three days of devoted living – way to go!
Recommended reading: Hosea 10-12 in the morning; Hosea 13 and 14, Jude 1 in the evening
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