Before the Birth is Something Called ‘Labor’!

“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,”

Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.”

Luke 1:30-31; 33-38

 

What do Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Jesus all have in common?

Some might say that all of them are make believe, there to grant you all of your wishes.

Of course, if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ you ought to know better.

I am not just talking about the fact that Jesus is not ‘make believe’ – certainly we believe in Him and understand He is real – but what about the second part?

Is Jesus in your life just to smooth out all the rough spots?

Is it His job to simply make all your dreams come true?

When you make Him Lord, do all your problems vanish just by uttering a prayer heavenward?

In some ways, not only will Jesus not solve all your problems, He will even bring you a few!

Mary was pregnant – and not by Joseph her betrothed either!

You see Jesus had not even come in the flesh yet and He was already a ‘problem’ for Mary!

 Sure, she was carrying the Son of God but try to tell that to her friends and relatives.

She saw the fingers pointing at her and knew the whispers were about her ‘condition’!

She responded to the angel’s news by saying: “May it be to me as you have said.”

But the very next words were: “Then the angel left her.”

The angelic visitation was over but Mary’s troubles were just beginning!

The angel left without posting his message on the internet.

Sure, Joseph had a dream but what of the rest of Mary’s family and friends.

Maybe God has spoken to you of what He wants to do in you and through you.

But then, like Mary the visit is over and you feel like you are left to deal with the aftermath all by yourself.

I wonder how many times during those nine months she wondered where her ‘super-hero’ was?

I wonder how many times she questioned why she ever said yes and whether or not it was all a bad dream.

After all, God is there to make everything easy and to grant all my wishes; right?

Maybe not.

Yes, His plans for you and I are good.

The ‘working out’ of them is not always pleasant!

Before the birth, there is something called ‘labor’!

Are you prepared to say “May it be to me as you have said”?

It may not always be easy but it will be worth it.