Bible League: Living His Word Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.Mary the mother of Jesus was a remarkable woman of faith. There was one angel, two birth announcements, two people, and two different responses. When Zacharias was told by the angel Gabriel that he and his wife Elizabeth would have John he did not believe the words of the angel. When Mary, on the other hand, was told by Gabriel that she would have Jesus she believed the words of the angel. The priest did not believe, but the simple peasant woman believed. For Zacharias, being told he and Elizabeth would have a child should have been great news, because they were childless. Zacharias, however, questioned the angel. All he could think of was that they were too old to have children. For Mary, on the other hand, being told that she would have a child must have been troubling news. After all, it meant that everyone in her village might think she had slept around, it meant that Joseph might divorce her, and it meant that Jesus might grow up being regarded as illegitimate. Mary, however, accepted the words of the angel in faith. Mary was willing to accept the consequences of the angel's words because she regarded herself as a maidservant of the Lord. What counted for Mary, in other words, was not her own wants and desires, but the will of the Lord. Under such circumstances as hers, most women would resist and question the words of the angel. Mary, in contrast, humbly accepted them in faith and submitted to the will of the Lord. Maybe her faith was the reason why the Lord chose her in the first place. Gabriel may not have flown down from heaven with a message of God for you, but God is still in the business of sending messages to His people. He still reveals His plans and purposes for us. He still shows us what we will do and where we will go. Sometimes, the things He reveals are difficult things. Sometimes, we would rather not do them. When those messages come, take inspiration from Mary. Let us say what she said, "Let it be to me according to your word." Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Chronicles 3, 4, 5 1 Chronicles 3 -- Family of David and Kings of Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Chronicles 4 -- Descendants of Judah and of Simeon NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Chronicles 5 -- Descendants of Reuben, Gad, Half-Tribe of Manasseh NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 8:1-20 John 8 -- The Woman Caught in Adultery; Jesus the Light of the World; The truth will set you free NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “Don't point your finger at someone elseand try to pass the blame! My complaint, you priests, is with you.” Insight We often blame others if we fear punishment for wrongdoing. Hosea warned the priests not to blame anyone else; the nation's sins were largely their fault. Israel's priests pointed out the people's sins, but God would not allow them to overlook their own irresponsible actions. Instead of instructing the nation in religion and morality, they had led the way toward idolatry and immorality. Their failure to lead the people in God's ways placed most of the blame for Israel's destruction on them. Challenge Knowing that God will not allow us to blame others for our sinfulness should cause us to admit our own sins. We are responsible for our own sinful actions. Beware of the tendency to blame others because it can keep you from feeling the need to repent. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Peter 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.If:--then, this is not a matter to be taken for granted concerning every one of the human race. "If:"--then there is a possibility and a probability that some may not have tasted that the Lord is gracious. "If:"--then this is not a general but a special mercy; and it is needful to enquire whether we know the grace of God by inward experience. There is no spiritual favor which may not be a matter for heart-searching. But while this should be a matter of earnest and prayerful inquiry, no one ought to be content whilst there is any such thing as an "if" about his having tasted that the Lord is gracious. A jealous and holy distrust of self may give rise to the question even in the believer's heart, but the continuance of such a doubt would be an evil indeed. We must not rest without a desperate struggle to clasp the Saviour in the arms of faith, and say, "I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him." Do not rest, O believer, till thou hast a full assurance of thine interest in Jesus. Let nothing satisfy thee till, by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with thy spirit, thou art certified that thou art a child of God. Oh, trifle not here; let no "perhaps" and "peradventure" and "if" and "maybe" satisfy thy soul. Build on eternal verities, and verily build upon them. Get the sure mercies of David, and surely get them. Let thine anchor be cast into that which is within the veil, and see to it that thy soul be linked to the anchor by a cable that will not break. Advance beyond these dreary "ifs;" abide no more in the wilderness of doubts and fears; cross the Jordan of distrust, and enter the Canaan of peace, where the Canaanite still lingers, but where the land ceaseth not to flow with milk and honey. Daily Light on the Daily Path Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.2 Corinthians 12:9,10 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. • Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. Psalm 71:16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Colossians 1:29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Colossians 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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