December 8 - Mary's "Yes"

"Then Mary said, 'Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her" (Luke 1:38 NKJV)

If we were planning the birth of the King of Kings, I highly doubt we would choose a teenage girl in Nazareth, a lowly village. We would find a royal family, a wealthy family that would provide support for the Chosen Messiah. Yet God's plan was to bypass those royal families and choose a young girl to be the mother of Jesus.

Mary was a teenage girl, certainly no older than 16. This assignment was given to a teenage girl who was betrothed to Joseph, meaning she was "married" in every sense we would understand today, except for the physical union.

No one was going to understand what was happening to her as she carried Jesus in her womb. They would believe that some indiscretion with Mary had occurred.

What was Mary's response to God giving her this incredible assignment? Zacharias had doubted when confronted by the angel that Elizabeth would have John in her old age. He was not able to speak until John was born. Mary's response was different. She did not question that it would happen. She asked, "How will this happen? I don't understand the details." But when the angel explained, she said, "Let it be to me according to Your Word. Behold the handmaiden of the Lord."

Mary is saying, "Here am I" - not location, but availability. God's assignments come to the available. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah hears God asking, "Who will I send?" and Isaiah responds, "Here am I. Send me" (Isaiah 6:8). Mary had that same heart of availability.

Reflection Question: What is God asking you to say "yes" to in your current circumstances?

Dear Heavenly Father, give me Mary's heart of surrender and faith. When You call me to step out in faith or trust You in difficult circumstances, help my response be willing obedience. I want to be available for Your purposes, even when I do not fully understand Your plan. In Jesus' Name, amen.