Do you ever wake up in the morning and think to yourself, “I could write a book about what’s going on in my life.”???””
I am accustomed to surprises, but I can still be caught off guard. Christmas is not a time I welcome unexpected surprises with everything else that is going on. We’ve had our fair share of expected visitors, unexpected visitors, conversations I’d rather not remember, you name it. You are probably making your last minute plans for this “close and coming fast” Christmas Day, not to mention Christmas Eve.
Mary had an unexpected visitor. His name was Gabriel and he was a messenger from God. He had some big news for Mary. For some it seemed to be bad news, but for us believers on the other side of the Cross, we know it was good news. It is great news just like the angel of the Lord said to the shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:9-11
How did Mary react to her unexpected visitor? She stopped and she listened. She responded.
I am sure that young Mary had plans and dreams for her life. Plans that did not include all that Gabriel had just told her, that SHE would conceive God’s son in HER womb and name Him JESUS. What would you say? What would you have done? What kind of interruption would this be and how long is it going to last? When will things get back to normal? Mary’s “normal” had just been drastically altered.
The Bible says in Luke 1:38 that Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
Mary said “Yes.” How often do you say “yes”? Yes to the unexpected, yes to the interruptions, yes to dealing with the mess that we feel others cause?
Mary was full of God’s grace. She had found favor with God. She was the one. She must have replaced any bitterness about the situation with God’s grace. The Word does not go into great detail about Mary’s situation and how she was treated by her village. We can only imagine the curiosity, the disbelief, the division, the ridicule that she and her family faced, not to mention how Joseph felt.
Whatever may seem unexpected this Christmas, let’s think about what is going right. Jesus is the gift, He is the Light of the world. He has overcome the world. So can we.
These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33