| "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary." Luke 1:26-27 |
Today marks exactly nine months until Christmas. It was around this time the angel announced to Mary she would give birth to the Lord. Mary was at first afraid of this "birth announcement," but then she rejoiced at the thought of being the mother of the Messiah. She went straight to her cousin, Elizabeth, with the fantastic news.
Elizabeth had good news of her own. Although old and childless, she was also expecting. Mary and Elizabeth had plenty to hob-nob about. For three months these two moms-to-be delighted in their miracles. They probably did all the first-century versions of things expectant mothers do today: knitted baby clothes, collected blankets, diapers, bibs, toys, rattles, and pacifiers (a small piece of chamois, maybe?) I picture them as two birds on a perch, chattering and chirping about their impending families. Expectant mothers deserve this kind of luxury, right?
But just at the time Mary was due, there came a big switch in plans. Uprooted from her house, Mary embarked on the long, dusty journey to Bethlehem. She may have thought,Nobody who's nine months pregnant should be riding a donkey over these rough roads...Here we are in Bethlehem, and the place is a zoo...people shoving, shouting. Everywhere we look, all we see are "no vacancy" signs...Surely, God has things backwards. None of this makes sense.
Perhaps Mary wrestled with those thoughts. But then she submitted, as she always had, to the lordship of God in her life.
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Is your situation askew? Do you wonder what God is up to? If plans in your life are going haywire right now, join Mary in submitting. The outcome might just be miraculous.
When the puzzles of life have me stymied, Lord, help me to lean on You and trust Your choices for me.
Blessings,
Joni and Friends
Joni and Friends Daily Devotional
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