Mary, Did You Know?

• Do you think it was hard or easy to be Jesus’ mother? Explain.

• How do you think Joseph felt about God’s plan for Mary?

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.”
Luke 1:30-31

If God had asked the women of Israel who wanted to be the mother of the Messiah, every one of them would have raised her hand. If they had known what that privilege would actually involve—becoming pregnant before marriage, enduring terrible gossip, watching helplessly as their Son was mocked, ridiculed, tortured and crucified—those hands would have come down in a hurry.

Mary certainly didn’t volunteer for the job. And she was stunned to discover she’d been selected for such an important role. She handled the extraordinary situation with grace and humility. She asked one question to help her understand God’s plan, then agreed to it immediately.

God has a plan for each of us. Ours may not be as earth-shattering as Mary’s. Ours may not be miraculous. Ours may not be announced by an angel. But God’s plan for us is important, and someone somewhere may be counting on us to be faithful to it.

Mary didn’t completely understand what God was going to accomplish through her. But she obeyed. She trusted God and gave him her life to do with as he pleased. What could God do with us if we gave him our lives?

PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for using humble, unassuming people to carry out your work. Use us as you see fit to accomplish your will. Amen.