Faith Demonstrated

12/16/2010

Good Morning!

I may have written a Good Morning similar to this in the past … but I am getting older and do have a tendency to repeat myself. Besides, I am still in awe of the faith of a young girl (approximately fourteen years old) who would trust God so completely. Here’s the beginning of the story of the birth of Jesus:

Luke 1:26-38 (English Standard Version)
Birth of Jesus Foretold
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed[a] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"[b] 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"[c]
35And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[d] will be called holy— the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God." 38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant[e] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Footnotes:
a. Luke 1:27 That is, legally pledged to be married
b. Luke 1:28 Some manuscripts add Blessed are you among women!
c. Luke 1:34 Greek since I do not know a man
d. Luke 1:35 Some manuscripts add of you
e. Luke 1:38 Greek bondservant; also verse 48

Our culture has become accustomed to teen pregnancy so sometimes we cannot fully appreciate the dilemma that Mary faced. She had been committed to marry Joseph who was obviously older than she. She really didn’t have much say in the betrothal … her father had probably made the arrangement. So when Mary turns up pregnant, she not only has to face Joseph but also her family. She would be subjected to humiliation and possibly death because of her transgression. What Mary did was far above bravery … it was complete trust in God.

What if it had been you? How do you think you would have responded to the angel Gabriel? What thoughts would have gone through your mind? Mary is an example of the complete trust we all should have in the ability of God to work out the attendant problems that might come when we do His will. When we do that, we can accomplish more than we ever expected.

Have a blessed weekend.

Agape’


Mr. Jim

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