Luke 1:34-38 - 34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”
35 The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 “And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
Reflection: This isn’t the first time in scripture we find someone who has a hard time accepting God’s promises at face value. We saw this with Moses at the burning bush. And just a few verses back, Zechariah was struck mute for not believing the angel’s message. At first, Mary too seems to be in disbelief, so why was she not reprimanded in the same way? I’m not the first to note this, but if you read more closely, Mary is simply clarifying how this is to come to pass, and she found peace in the answer.
I find it kind of hilarious that his proof is basically... (my paraphrase), “Don’t you think if God can bless that old woman Elizabeth with a child, she can give you a child? If God can do that, nothing is impossible.” And Mary was at peace. So much so that she say, “Okay, you’ve got a point. Let’s do this.”
Romans 4:17 is a beautiful verse, which says, “God… calls into being that which does not exist.”
Read those words again. Isn’t that what God has been in the business of doing from the beginning of creation? Calling things into existence that had not yet existed? Is there something that you feel called to, that you just can’t seem to do? If nothing is impossible with God, look at whatever seemingly insurmountable circumstances that stand in your way, and give them over to Him.
Your only job is to stand in faith and say, “May it be done to me according to your word.”
Josh Miles
Prayer: Father, You are so good to us. Nothing is impossible for You. You are the Creator of the Universe, and every good and perfect gift comes from You. And yet You know us intimately. We praise You for Your faithfulness to us, and can’t help but admire how You call things into existence things before they have even existed. Father, may we find peace in Your promises, ready to say, “May it be done to me according to your word. Amen”
35 The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 “And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
Reflection: This isn’t the first time in scripture we find someone who has a hard time accepting God’s promises at face value. We saw this with Moses at the burning bush. And just a few verses back, Zechariah was struck mute for not believing the angel’s message. At first, Mary too seems to be in disbelief, so why was she not reprimanded in the same way? I’m not the first to note this, but if you read more closely, Mary is simply clarifying how this is to come to pass, and she found peace in the answer.
I find it kind of hilarious that his proof is basically... (my paraphrase), “Don’t you think if God can bless that old woman Elizabeth with a child, she can give you a child? If God can do that, nothing is impossible.” And Mary was at peace. So much so that she say, “Okay, you’ve got a point. Let’s do this.”
Romans 4:17 is a beautiful verse, which says, “God… calls into being that which does not exist.”
Read those words again. Isn’t that what God has been in the business of doing from the beginning of creation? Calling things into existence that had not yet existed? Is there something that you feel called to, that you just can’t seem to do? If nothing is impossible with God, look at whatever seemingly insurmountable circumstances that stand in your way, and give them over to Him.
Your only job is to stand in faith and say, “May it be done to me according to your word.”
Josh Miles
Prayer: Father, You are so good to us. Nothing is impossible for You. You are the Creator of the Universe, and every good and perfect gift comes from You. And yet You know us intimately. We praise You for Your faithfulness to us, and can’t help but admire how You call things into existence things before they have even existed. Father, may we find peace in Your promises, ready to say, “May it be done to me according to your word. Amen”