How Would You Respond?

Read: Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)

²⁶In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³²He 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, ³³and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on 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. ³⁶Even 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. ³⁷For 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.

Reflect:

What would your response be? How would you respond if an angel of God came and sat down in the middle of your bedroom and told you that you were chosen to carry His son even though you were a virgin? Would you be scared, excited, or anxious? How would you tell your significant other? How would you handle all the looks and stares from your friends, family, and church congregation?

Although it is likely none of us will have this type of experience, have we not all been placed here to fulfill a certain part of God’s will? Maybe our gifts won’t be as obvious during our life on Earth. However, God is speaking when we are ready to listen. Maybe we are being asked to talk to a stranger on the metro. Maybe we are being asked to help a friend in need. Maybe we are the person telling of Christ’s love for the first, second, 100^th time when it is finally heard.

So when, like Mary, you do hear God’s calling in your heart, how do you respond? Are you scared, excited, or anxious? How do you tell your family, friends, and congregation? Mary’s story should give us all excitement and hope. Like us, she was initially afraid and unsure, but like Mary, we need to have unwavering faith in God’s plan and completely become His servant.

Act:

May we take time out this week and truly listen to hear where God wants to use us in His plan. May we then have faith that we can do whatever He asks.

Pray:

Dear Lord, I thank You for Mary’s example. I pray that I, like Mary, can have the faith to go wherever You take me and fulfill my small part of Your plan. Thank You for the opportunity, Lord. Amen.

Paul and Sarah McIntosh