December 21
Scripture of the day: "Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' The angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.' And Mary said, 'Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her." Luke 1:34-38
Thought of the day: The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus ... and that it would be a virgin birth. Gabriel also told her that elderly Elizabeth had conceived ... an example that "nothing is impossible with God." Mary immediately submitted to the Lord's will.
Challenge of the day: Her response is a great example for us. Imagine how simple and predictable Mary's life must have been before Gabriel's announcement. However, she willingly submitted ... and her life was forever changed. Her submission was in two parts ... "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord" (a general statement of her life's submission) and "May it be done to me according to your word" (a specific statement about the birth of Jesus). Have you come to the point in your life where you have voluntarily made yourself to be the Lord's bondslave? Are you willing to let the Lord use you in any way and in any place? And is the Lord asking you to do something very different ... something that will greatly change your life? Will you submit to His will? Will you say, "May it be done to me according to Your Word"?
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