Believing the Promise

Christmas time is upon us, and one of the characters that takes on a starring role in the story of the nativity is Mary.  Much has been said and conjectured about Mary over the years, but the truth is, within the Bible, we know very little about her.  Yet the one thing that God made sure we all know about her is that she believed the promise of God.  In Luke 1:45, just before Mary begins what some have called the only New Testament psalm, a wonderful prayer we know as the Magnificat today, her cousin, Elizabeth says:

"Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord"

Mary heard probably the most incredible story from an angel, and had to be wondering if it was real.  But, in a moment, she decided that it was, that this was God's word, and that He had made a promise to her.  And, she acted.  She said yes.  And in that moment, I believe God made sure she knew what yes would mean:  she could lose the man she was betrothed to, she would endure a lifetime of snickering about her and the parentage of her Son, and, ulitmately, she would see her beloved Son die on a cross. She said yes.

Today, God has promised much to us.  That if we believe in his Son, we will be saved.  That He will never leave nor forske us.  That He is the author and the finisher of our faith.  That all things will work together for good if we believe and are called to His purpose.  And, it is our turn to say yes or no.  Let Mary be our shining example of the glory of saying yes to God, and behold that smile on a mother's face, in the middle of a stable, holding her Son, the savior of the world.