36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary's confusion and God's response to her brings assurance and peace knowing He will do the same for you and me when we find ourselves in troubled and uncertain situations. Knowing Mary's frame of mind, the angel pointed her to a similar, relevant, real-life evidence of God's activity near her that she could identify with.
Your life affects your extended family and friends.
The angel messenger let her in on Elizabeth's secret. Or, maybe Elizabeth had already told her and Gabriel simply reminded her. Either way, he said, "Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." He was saying open your heart, Mary, just believe! God can do anything! Even if you've never heard of it before! And, truly there is no record of birth outside the union of man and woman, before or since this time.
What seems impossible to you today? What has you confused or troubled? Believe the message of this passage today. Listen to the Lord speaking Who He is to your spirit even now and receive the Truth in His Word. He makes possible the impossible! We don't have to remain confused or troubled if we will believe what we know, and trust God with what we do not yet know.
Mary models the heart of someone who received the message of God in faith. This is a picture of the Seed falling on good soil (Luke 8:8, 15) She responds, "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said." I love how the Message translates it! Mary says, "Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as You say." When God speaks a word into our spirit and we receive it in faith as coming directly from Him, we too can say I SEE IT ALL NOW!!! That is a declaration of our faith! I don't think it means Mary saw every detail of her situation crystal clear. I believe it means she saw the Lord, and in seeing Him she was able to trust Him with all she didn't understand! Hallelujah! That's what being in His presence produces. The fruit of faith, fresh faith, believing God is Who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. And only after that happens are we truly willing and ready to worship the Lord and serve His people. We may sing in church for singing's sake (because it brings some kind of personal fulfillment) and we may play our music (because we enjoy playing) but we won't be genuinely serving (worshiping) the Lord unless we've heard from Him and have received His power and anointing to do what He's called us to do. What an awesome thought that God would choose to descend on us and grace us with His presence as we genuinely ask Him to.
Would you whisper a prayer right now praising the Lord for the things He's made possible in your life that you thought were impossible? Would you wait before Him and ask Him to do it again and do the same in someone else this Christmas? As He speaks to your heart will you say with Mary, "Lord, let it be with me just as You say?"
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