What If Mary Had Said No?

A devotion to help consider the Virgin Mary's willingness to follow God's request and apply that commitment to your life.

By Tricia Goyer, Little Rock, Arkansas

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 

Last week we put out the nativity set that is the centerpiece of my dining room. I had to pause as I was setting up beautiful Mary. It made me think,“What if she’d said no?”
But she didn’t, maybe that’s why God chose her.  Mary considered herself a maidservant, and she was willing to be put to use. Surrender, trust, and a willing heart to God’s desire are wonderful traits for a mother. Out of all the homes to be raised in, God looked down and desired Jesus to be raised by her. And we can see the same traits lived about by her son.

It made me stop to think about how willing I am to follow what God has asked me to do. Do I always respond like Mary? No. Are there things He’s asked me to do that I haven’t followed through with yet? Yes.
It also makes me think about what I’m modeling for my children. God chose a young girl with the mind of a maidservant to raise His only begotten Son. What big task could He have for me if I’m openhearted and willing?

Faith step: If you have a nativity set consider keeping it out all year and not just at Christmas. While we do want to focus on Jesus in the manger also think about some of the other people at the manger. What lessons can you learn from them?

http://www.guideposts.org/faith/daily-devotions/devotions-for-women/