Why me, Lord? Why on earth or in heaven have you called me to do this? Don't you think I know what people are saying about me? I'm not deaf you know.
30 The angel said to her, “Don't be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. 31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, 33 and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!”
Luke 1: 30-33 GNT
Okay, Lord, I'm beginning to understand. Joseph and I are blessed. Of all the people in the world, you're entrusting us with this child.
But, Lord, this is a huge responsibility! The prophet, Isaiah, foretold his birth centuries ago, and our people have been looking for this child ever since. What if we blow it?
But, Lord, this is a huge responsibility! The prophet, Isaiah, foretold his birth centuries ago, and our people have been looking for this child ever since. What if we blow it?
All right then, the Lord himself will choose the sign—a child shall be born to a virgin![a] And she shall call him Immanuel (meaning, “God is with us”).
Isaiah 7:14 TLB
It's not like I'm perfect, you know, and parenting means the long-haul. And guess what, Lord? When us women were allowed to squeeze into the fringes of the synagogue, I've been paying attention.
Our guy, Isaiah, also foretold the horror that awaits this child. How can I stand it? How can I love and care for your son, knowing these things?
Our guy, Isaiah, also foretold the horror that awaits this child. How can I stand it? How can I love and care for your son, knowing these things?
3 We despised him and rejected him—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care...
5 But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed!
Isaiah 53: 3, 5 TLB
Lord, I'm a hot mess of hormones and emotions! Forgive me for not graciously receiving your blessing. There will be time enough for grieving later.
For now, thank you for loving and trusting me with this new life. And thank you for a lifetime committment to serve with your son. Thank you for choosing me!
For now, thank you for loving and trusting me with this new life. And thank you for a lifetime committment to serve with your son. Thank you for choosing me!
48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation forever shall call me blest of God. 49 For he, the mighty Holy One, has done great things to me.
Luke 1: 48-49 TLB
Dear Reader, have you been chosen lately? Maybe it's to take on a project at work. Perhaps it's a leadership role in a volunteer organization. It can flattering, exhilerating to receive the tangible regard of others, can't it?
And then the reality check inevidentally comes. Late nights, short supplies, grumpy colleagues. You wondered what you'd signed up for.
Or what about being chosen in the "Game of Life"? That college you applied to on a longshot? The guy you would have sworn would never give you the time of day, but did? Those two tiny red lines on a gadget that changed your life forever?
And then the reality check inevidentally comes. Late nights, short supplies, grumpy colleagues. You wondered what you'd signed up for.
Or what about being chosen in the "Game of Life"? That college you applied to on a longshot? The guy you would have sworn would never give you the time of day, but did? Those two tiny red lines on a gadget that changed your life forever?
Dearest Reader, the Lord is still in the business of choosing people. And just like when He chose the Hebrew children as His own, and Mary to be the mother of His Son, God expects obedience and committment in return.
Oh yeah, and then there's that.
Are we brave enough to move beyond asking, "Why me, Lord?" when the Lord chooses us for His work? To trust Him, and choose obedience and committment without knowing the outcome?
Sweet Friend, we may not know the outcome of being chosen, but God's Word is centuries of Him assuring His children that He is always with them.
Oh yeah, and then there's that.
Are we brave enough to move beyond asking, "Why me, Lord?" when the Lord chooses us for His work? To trust Him, and choose obedience and committment without knowing the outcome?
Sweet Friend, we may not know the outcome of being chosen, but God's Word is centuries of Him assuring His children that He is always with them.
Don’t worry—I am with you.
Don’t be afraid—I am your God.
I will make you strong and help you.
I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.
Isaiah 41:10 ERV
The gifts of gold, frankinsense, and myrrh are pretty cool, and I'm sure they were put to good use. But I'm also pretty sure our Lord also counts our gifts of obedience and committment as treasures as well.
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