A Willing Heart

Luke 1:30-38 "But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 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."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her."

Yesterday when I was in Sunday School we were talking about Mary as a young girl. If someone came up to you and asked if you would be willing to do something for the Lord, what would your first response be? I hope that mine would be an immediate "Yes, Lord."

What if you also learned that your decision would likely entail public humiliation, disgrace, shame, being an object of scorn, ridicule and gossip, would your answer still remain the same? When Mary said yes to what the angel said, she opened herself up to all of these possibilities. There is a good chance that she went through all of these scenarios. In her day and culture, a woman found pregnant outside of wedlock was subject to public stoning.

Mary knew all of these things, but still said "Yes" to God. She had a willing heart and yet she still said, "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."

Perhaps you are in a difficult situation right now where you are fighting against God and His desire for your life. I challenge you to seek to have a willing heart, particularly during this Christmas season.

ACTIVITY
Make a point of being willing to do what God asks you.

PRAYER
Dear Lord, create a willing heart within me. Make me in your image. Amen.