THE ART OF MIRACLES

Luke 1:31-3831 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are togive Him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called theSon of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of Hisfather David, 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever;His kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The HolySpirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High willovershadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 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. 37 For nothing is impossible with God." 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Five-year-old Mark watched with interest as his father sketched theportrait of one of his clients. The woman sat very still on thecouch while Mark's father worked swiftly with his pencil to outlineher face on the paper in front of him.

But there was something that Mark could not understand. His father'ssketch didn't look like the woman he saw sitting on the couch. Marksaw only lines, crosses, and circles on the clean white paper. Itdidn't make any sense to the young boy. Innocently, he asked, "Dad,how is it that what you're drawing is not what I see?"

His father smiled and continued working with his pencil. Tired ofwaiting for an answer, Mark fell asleep beside his father. Hours later, Mark woke up. On the drawing board was his father's completed picture of the woman. Mark exclaimed excitedly, "It's a miracle!"

When we read Luke 1, we see another miracle. An angel appeared tothe virgin Mary and told her she would become pregnant (v.31).Imagine Mary's dilemma when she heard what the angel said. She wasengaged to be married to Joseph. If she were found to be pregnantbefore their wedding, she faced the possibility of a brokenengagement and social scorn. Confronted with the risk of heartbreak,tremendous persecution, and great disgrace, Mary chose to submit tothe Lord's will.

God honored Mary's obedience. The Lord spoke to Joseph on behalf of Mary, and she was used as a vessel to bring about the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25).

Like Mary, we don't understand all the things that happen to us.Daily we must learn to trust and obey God more fully. Someday inheaven we'll see our Father's final sketch of us and realizecompletely the goodness of His sovereign will. --Joanna Lim

DESTINATION POINTS

* When was the last time I was in a difficult situation that didn'tmake any sense? How did I react?
* What can I learn from Mary inLuke 1:38?
* How do I trust and obey God in difficult circumstances?

LINKS:
Down But Never Out
http://www.christianitytoday.com/cr/2003/006/2.62.html

bottom line: Submission to God involves trust and obedience.

soul journey