Let it be according to God's Word

​12-13-22

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth and wait for his Second Coming, my devotion for today is based on Luke 1:38, “And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.”
If you stop to think about it, God didn't have to tell Mary what He was going to do. He didn't have to explain anything at all. Oh, no doubt Mary would have been surprised and frightened to find herself pregnant with no explanation of how it happened—but after all, Mary is a human being, and she has to do what God wants. Right?
And yet—that is not the kind of God we have, One who runs roughshod over us, caring about nothing but His own power and glory. One of the old Greek gods would have behaved like that—if they were real. But not this God, not the true God. He asks first.
Why? Because this is God's nature—to be gentle, show mercy, and treat even the least of His creatures as incredibly valuable. Mary has a high value in God's eyes. You have a high value in God's eyes. God will not treat you carelessly. He loves you. That is why He sent His Son Jesus to rescue you!
God has done everything. Jesus was born among us. He lived, served, taught, and healed—and then He lay down His life for us on the cross to make us God's own. He rose from the dead. And now He offers eternal life to everyone who will believe in Him.

But God will not force himself on anyone. Instead, He offers Himself to us. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to say willingly, "Yes, Lord. I am Yours."
Please pray with me, Dear Father; give me Your Spirit's help to respond to You as Mary did, “Let it be according to your Word.” In Jesus’ blessed name, I pray. Amen.