“‘Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!’”
Luke 1:45
As soon as the angel made his great announcement of a baby to be born to Mary, she was perplexed as to how it could happen, since she was not married. Yet to her very heart of hearts, she believed it would be so. The faith of this young girl is breathtaking indeed. Would you or I have believed so readily?
Still the news would have left her with many questions. What will people say? What will Joseph do? How am I to support a baby? How could this baby possibly rise out of our poverty and ascend to a throne? It would have been overwhelming to think of it … except that she understood living by faith.
Greater to Mary than the “blessed life” as you and I might conceive of it was her certainty that God would fulfill all His promises, even through life’s difficulties. This is what we 21st century believers in Jesus hold onto as well. We trust that the Lord will work things out, no matter how perplexing, frightening, or depressing the outlook. When we live by faith—even a small faith (see Matthew 17:20)—we can rejoice despite our troubles.
Still the news would have left her with many questions. What will people say? What will Joseph do? How am I to support a baby? How could this baby possibly rise out of our poverty and ascend to a throne? It would have been overwhelming to think of it … except that she understood living by faith.
Greater to Mary than the “blessed life” as you and I might conceive of it was her certainty that God would fulfill all His promises, even through life’s difficulties. This is what we 21st century believers in Jesus hold onto as well. We trust that the Lord will work things out, no matter how perplexing, frightening, or depressing the outlook. When we live by faith—even a small faith (see Matthew 17:20)—we can rejoice despite our troubles.
Scripture Focus
Romans 1:16-17
Insight
“Mary could only say yes because one day,some thirty years later, her son would say yes toGod … in the garden [of Gethsemane].” (DanielDarling, 2019)
Bible In A Year
- Daniel 11-12
- Proverbs 10
- Hebrews 13