Carols Devotional: “What Child Is This, Part 6”

Luke 1:26-45

“The Virgin Sings Her Lullaby”

So much has been written about Mary. It would be difficult to write anything new.  But one thing that impresses me was her willingness to be the Lord’s servant.  When the angel Gabriel approached her and told her she would become with child before she was married, she asked questions, “How can this be since I am a virgin?”  But Scripture does not indicate that she thought about it a very long time.  When the angel explained to her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and told her that her aged cousin, Elizabeth, was expecting, she willingly submitted to what God was asking her to do.  “I am the Lord’s servant.  May it be to me as you have said.”

God was asking a very difficult thing of her.  Most people would believe that she was promiscuous.  Even her fiancé, Joseph, thought so until an angel of the Lord informed him differently. This stigma actually hung over her all her life.  The Jews accused Jesus of being born of fornication (John 8:41 KJV)  Most Bible scholars believe Mary was very young, probably around 15 years old.  This was a heavy thing to ask of her.  Yet, because she knew the voice of God, she submitted to His request.

How do you react when God asks a hard thing of you?  Are you as ready to obey as Mary was? I think a key might be our absolute belief in God and His power.  This is what the angel told Mary:  “For nothing is impossible with God.”  If we believe that unreservedly¸ then we can trust God with our whole lives, our families and all that we own.

Naomi Brinkman