A Willing Heart Full of Faith

As I meditate on the events surrounding the birth of Christ,  I can't help but think about the inevitable scandal that was birthed as the result of the news of Mary's pregnancy.  I wonder what was the reaction of the people as the news of this mysterious pregnancy reached the ears of the community where she had grown up.

Did her community believer her?  I am sure that some did as they would have known her character but I am also certain that there would be many who would doubt the story of the angel's appearance and all that followed, assuming that it was fabricated in order to cover up her disgrace.

But despite the probable scandal, Mary responded with a willing heart, full of faith toward the angel's news.

"Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

Just like her son would one day lay down His life, she too laid down her life in order to fulfill her Father's great plan of salvation to the whole world.

She could have ended up as humiliated and infamous but instead she became blessed and famous.

 Elizabeth knew it would end up that way for Mary.

"Blessed are you among women, 

and blessed is the fruit of your womb!... 

And blessed is she who believed 

that there would be a fulfillment 

of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

Even her son would later declare,

"... Those who believe without seeing are blessed."

As the reality of Christ is conceived  in our hearts, we have a great opportunity to respond with a willing hearts full of faith, ready to lay down our lives for the cause of Christ.

We, like Mary are blessed as we choose to take God at His word in our lives.  When we choose to believe God even when the world thinks that being a Christian is scandalous we are laying down our lives as servants before our King.

There is so much that we can glean from the historical account of Christ's conception, development and birth.  We have an opportunity like Mary to allow God to do whatever He wills for our lives by giving Him free reign over every area of our hearts and minds.

As we set Jesus on the throne of our hearts this Christmas season, as Mary had already done, then we are blessed because we  have faith in God.

Father, thank you for breaking through social and cultural boundaries in order to reach each and every  one of your children with your scandalous love!