Advent - God Knows What He's AboutSample

Angelic Revelation Can Sting

Should life be a little easier for a Christian than for others? Mary was chosen to be the mother of God’s son. Joseph, surely deeply in love with Mary, wanted to believe that Mary was with child from the Holy Spirit. As a mere man, he had to have some doubt until a message came from an angel for him to believe this rather extravagant story.

Just as we see in the world today, many people throughout the life of Mary saw Mary as a soiled woman when she attempted to convince people that the child she carried was from the Holy Spirit. I’m sure the trials and tribulations that she endured felt, at times, to be just too hard, yet this does not negate the fact that she was chosen and called to share God’s love with a needy world of sinners. 

The decision for Mary to be a part of this plan was revealed by prophets many years prior to the events, and it was devised even before time began. Each one of us is a part of that plan and it is to our benefit to determine how we fit into God’s plan. Then our actions can be directed toward that purpose, just as Mary continued to raise Jesus as the key to God’s plan.  

Mary and Joseph simply did what was commanded of them as obedience to the plan of God. Second thoughts or questioning the commands of God will never lead us to the purpose that God has for our lives. We must remain obedient, even if it takes us from our comfort zones and stretches us to the full extent of our skills and expectations. 

God may never send an angel or a dream to guide us in His ways, but we have been given God’s Spirit within us that we may be led through our heart and conscience. We have been given the Bible as a source of inspiration and as a map to follow. We have also been given mates, family, and brothers/sisters in Christ to counsel us in our walk of faith. So, like Mary and Joseph, grab hold of what we are given by God, and follow in obedience!

Dave Marek
Manager of Administrative Support, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor