Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Advent Reflections: Day 10 - 12/11/2012



“The angel answered,
“The Holy Spirit will come on 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.”
Luke 1:35 (NIV)




Reflection

In the flash of an instant and within the divine intervention of an angelic messenger, Mary’s life would be forever transformed. It’s hard to imagine some of the thoughts that must have been racing through her young mind. “Why me?”, “There’s nothing special about me”, “I’m not good enough”, “I’m too young”, “I’m not ready for this”, “This isn’t what I had planned”  But yet here she was, facing a choice that really was no choice at all. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” God chose Mary. An ordinary woman, with faults like anyone else, recognized that the love of God was about to overwhelm humanity and that she would be used as its vessel.

How often do we question our abilities when God wants to use us? Instead of recognizing the awesome fact that a loving God chooses to use flawed human beings, we resist, thinking that we know better than God. Mary wasn’t perfect. She was afraid and maybe a little confused. But in His perfect love and sovereign will, God chose her. With all her fears, imperfections and questions, she heard God’s word, chose not to hesitate and acknowledged that His plan was much bigger than hers. In love, God chose her and in obedience, she was willing to say, “I am the Lord’s servant.”  

During this season of Advent, may we set aside our plans, hesitations and fears of imperfection. May we trust in a God that chooses to use us, not because he has to, not because we are perfect, but because He loves us, and nothing more.
                    
Prayer

Lord, it is in this quiet moment that we acknowledge Your presence and perfect love for us. We know that we are far from perfect, and we know that our imperfections sometimes hold us back. But as we meditate on Your perfection, help us to trust in You and that Your decisions are always right. Give us the strength to step forward when You call, knowing that it is because of Your love that You chose us. Let it be only in love that we serve You. Amen 

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