Christmas Advent Devotional Day 21: According to Your Word"

 



 

Luke 1:36-38

 

36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.

38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (NKJV)

 

 

In previous verses, the angel, Gabriel, had told Mary astounding news- she would give birth to God in the flesh.  As her mind is still swirling with such lofty thoughts, Gabriel seems to run off on a tangent and give her a family news update.  By the way- your cousin Elizabeth is going to be a mom too!

This could seem a bit rando- but nothing with God occurs as a happenstance! The miracle going on in Elizabeth’s life is not isolated to her but is very much a part of the story of what is happening in Mary’s life as well. 

Admittedly, knowing someone else is walking through a similar situation helps us feel less alone.  Both women were having miracle children.  Elizabeth, barren and past the age of childbearing, would miraculously have a son! That would be a hard enough miracle to comprehend.  But for Mary, a virgin, to give birth, was mind bending!

If you know the full story of the birth of Jesus and His life and ministry, you are probably familiar with the significance of Elizabeth’s child as well.  He, too, would be no ordinary child.  Though he was not God in the flesh, he was born to a very specific assignment from God.  He was to be the forerunner of Christ.  He was to be a voice stirring up the faith of Jews who had long awaited their Messiah.  Many were probably half asleep in their hope.  They had waited so long with nothing happening.  But John the Baptist would be like a neon light flashing in the darkness and pointing toward the coming Light of the World!

Elizabeth was 6 months along at the time.  Quite possibly Mary had not heard of the miracle in Elizabeth’s life.  But now the women’s journeys in parenthood would be inextricably joined together. At this juncture, neither woman understood in full the coming reality.  But how it must have encouraged the heart of Mary to hear Gabriel say: “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

It is true- with God the sinner becomes a saint.  The lost becomes found.  The barren becomes a mother.  This declaration from Gabriel seems to have stirred a gift of faith in Mary because her response is amazing- here I am!  I am God’s servant!  I am willing to do what He wants me to do.  May your words- and His will- come to pass in my life.  And then the angel left- mission accomplished!

Would you have responded with Mary’s faith?  I doubt I would have.  I would probably be still sitting there in utter confusion.  Mary was a person, just like you or me.  But her submission to God, her faith, and her utter willingness to be used by God (no matter the cost), stirs and challenges me today. Join me in praying:

“Let it be to me according to your word” Oh, Lord!  Amen!



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