Devotion: Mary is Perplexed
Please take the time to read Luke 1:26-38
Have you noticed a God Moment in your life? I have a friend who’s quick to point out my God Moments when I’m telling her a story, which I appreciate. In short these are personal moments where God’s purpose, presence and love is revealed.
If you’ve taken time to realize a God Moment, I’m guessing that few of us, if any, have experienced the magnitude of Mary’s ultimate God Moment delivered to her by the angel Gabriel that she would bear the son of God.
Her immediate reaction was understandable confusion asking, “How can this be?” But she eventually came around in faith and humility, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.”
This week, Pastor Sarah began our Advent series where we will focus on Mary’s story to learn how God’s love, much like a mother’s love, is rooted deep in each of us. Pastor Sarah told us that Mary’s story is an ultimate model of faith and an example of God breaking into our lives. It also helps us to find faith that God is working through us even though we ask the question, “How can this be?”
Like Mary, we may wonder. How can God break into our ordinary lives and do the extraordinary? How can we be vessels of the Gospel truth dwelling within us? How can we live to the greatness that God sees in us?
Mary’s story shows that God sees potential in all of us. Despite being young, poor, and female in a patriarchal society, Mary was chosen for an awe-inspiring purpose. God glimpsed Mary’s inner depth and character. This Advent, may we remember that each of us is full of grace and carries God-given potential for purpose. Like Mary, may we respond with courage and faith.
As we reflect on this Advent season and Mary as a model of faith, may we all open our hearts to God breaking in. May we seek those God Moments with trust in his loving plans for our lives.
Dear God, In all the sounds of the Advent season, help me to listen for You breaking into my life. Help me to have faith over my fear to respond with courage to your confidence in me to live out Your awe-inspiring purpose for me. Amen.
Written by Randy Hawthorne
Having a rivaled human network, Randy makes it his personal mission to connect those humans to their next big thing. Randy has decades of experience in the nonprofit industry, having served as a professional and volunteer in a variety of organizations. He enjoys mentoring students and entrepreneurs, occasionally makes his way to a theater stage, geeks out on local history and goes on dining adventures.