"A COURTEOUS GOD, AND A WILLING RESPONSE"
Dec. 13, 2019
And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
—Luke 1:38 (ESV)
If you stop to think about it, God didn't have to tell Mary what He was going to do. He didn't have to explain anything at all. Oh, no doubt Mary would have been surprised and frightened to find herself pregnant with no explanation of how it happened—but after all, Mary is a human being, and she has to do what God wants. Right?
And yet—that is not the kind of God we have, One who runs roughshod over us, caring about nothing but His own power and glory. One of the old Greek gods would have behaved like that—if they were real. But not this God, not the true God. He asks first.
Why? Because this is God's nature—to be gentle, to show mercy, to treat even the least of His creatures as incredibly valuable. Mary has a high value in God's eyes. You have a high value in God's eyes. God will not treat you carelessly. He loves you. That is why He sent His Son Jesus to rescue you!
God has done everything. Jesus was born among us. He lived and served and taught and healed—and then He lay down His life for us on the cross, to make us God's own. He rose from the dead. And now He offers us eternal life, to everyone who will believe in Him.
But God will not force His hand. Instead, He offers Himself to us. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, we say willingly, "Yes, Lord. I am Yours."
THE PRAYER: Dear Father, give me Your Spirit's help to respond to You with joy and gladness. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- What rules of courtesy and good manners did your family teach you?
- How do you think courtesy is related to love?
- When has God treated you with loving courtesy in your life?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What rules of courtesy and good manners did your family teach you?
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