Facing a Hard Choice
In the clip from the movie "Elf" (one of the few Christmas movies I really like), Buddy the Elf, played by Will Ferrell, gets great news: Santa is coming. In fact, he screams out in joy at the prospect of seeing Santa.
There is true excitement. He jumps and screams and can't wait to tell everyone (including fellow workers at the store) that Santa is coming. A few scenes later, we see him decorate the store in preparation for the big arrival.
Buddy is excited.
Contrast that with Mary from Luke 1:26-38.
In Luke 1, an angel appears and lays out God's plan for her. He tells her that the Messiah is coming and she's been chosen to be his mother. She will carry and birth the son of God.
Mary, who is probably around 14 years old at the time, isn't too thrilled with this news initially. We know from scripture that she's a virgin, but that doesn't make her naive. She knows where babies come from. She would be well versed in the birds and bees. She also knows she hasn't done what it takes to get pregnant.
So instead of excitement, Mary initially responds with trepidation. She wants to know how this is going to take place. She needs some answers. So the angel gives them. The Holy Spirit will come upon Mary - not in a sexual way - and make her pregnant.
Satisfied with the answer, she agrees to carry the Messiah.
But I want you to know that she may not have been too excited. Why? Because this agreement comes with a cost. Joseph may divorce her. She could even be killed for adultery. People may shun her. Life, as she knows it, will be forever changed.
Yet, she agreed anyway. Why? Because she had great faith in God.
There's a lesson for us in that small story. God may call us to do extraordinary things. He may call us to do hard things. He may not always shield us from the cruel realities of the world.
Yet, he still calls us to serve. He still expects us to obey.
When God gives you a hard decision, what will you choose? Mary chose to obey. How about you?
There is true excitement. He jumps and screams and can't wait to tell everyone (including fellow workers at the store) that Santa is coming. A few scenes later, we see him decorate the store in preparation for the big arrival.
Buddy is excited.
Contrast that with Mary from Luke 1:26-38.
In Luke 1, an angel appears and lays out God's plan for her. He tells her that the Messiah is coming and she's been chosen to be his mother. She will carry and birth the son of God.
Mary, who is probably around 14 years old at the time, isn't too thrilled with this news initially. We know from scripture that she's a virgin, but that doesn't make her naive. She knows where babies come from. She would be well versed in the birds and bees. She also knows she hasn't done what it takes to get pregnant.
So instead of excitement, Mary initially responds with trepidation. She wants to know how this is going to take place. She needs some answers. So the angel gives them. The Holy Spirit will come upon Mary - not in a sexual way - and make her pregnant.
Satisfied with the answer, she agrees to carry the Messiah.
Yet, she agreed anyway. Why? Because she had great faith in God.
There's a lesson for us in that small story. God may call us to do extraordinary things. He may call us to do hard things. He may not always shield us from the cruel realities of the world.
Yet, he still calls us to serve. He still expects us to obey.
When God gives you a hard decision, what will you choose? Mary chose to obey. How about you?
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