Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

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Devotional for Thursday, December 5th

Today’s Bible Reading: Luke 1:26-38

One of my favorite TV shows growing up was Touched By An Angel. I loved the end of every episode when Monica would reveal that she's an angel. Her face would glow and she'd speak words of comfort that lifted the spirits of the person she was visiting.

In the Bible, visits from angels were very different from this experience. Their presence often sparked confusion and doubt in the people they visited. But Mary, the mother of Jesus, reacted quite contrary to this when the angel Gabriel visited her.

Sometimes Protestants try to steer clear of Mary. Because we don't want to "Hail Mary," we go to the other extreme and undervalue her part in the Christmas story. But there is a lot we can learn from this young woman, and I want to be like her in the way I respond to God's call on my life.

Like Zechariah, Mary was startled by Gabriel's appearance. That gives me some hope because I'm sure I would jump out of my skin if an angel ever tapped me on the shoulder. (I am now feeling very uneasy sitting all alone in my office!) When Gabriel tells Mary that she will give birth to Jesus, she has some questions. This is also similar to Zechariah's response. God (through Gabriel) punishes Zechariah for his doubt. But he responds with gentleness to Mary. Why the difference?

Zechariah wanted proof. "How can I be sure of this?" he asks. Mary's question seems to be just that. An honest question. "How can this be when I am a virgin?" Gabriel patiently gives Mary an answer. And, knowing that it may sound crazy, ends with, "Nothing will be impossible with God." (v. 37, ESV)

I also think this shows that God deals with us as individuals. Like children, we need different things from God at different times. Zechariah was an old man who had been in vocational ministry his whole life. He risked growing callous to God, as all of us in that line of work do. Zechariah needed a reminder of God's power. Mary was a young teenager who would now face public scorn for being pregnant out of wedlock. She needed a reminder of God's gentleness.

After Gabriel answers Mary, she does something that very few people in the Bible (and life) do. She accepts the answer. Mary doesn't hem or haw as Moses or Gideon or Jonah did. She says, Okay, let's do this.

There were still a lot of unanswered questions. Mary would somehow have to tell Joseph about this. Would he believe her? Even if he did, they faced a long, uncertain road ahead. But Mary considered herself blessed to be chosen by God to do something wonderful.

Questions to Ponder:

When God calls you to do something, how do you typically respond? What prevents you from responding like Mary?

What attribute of God do you need to be reminded of today? His power? His kindness? His gentleness? His justice? Ask God to reveal that part of him to you.

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