Luke 1:26-38
When angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her the good news that she will conceive and give birth to a son (V 26-37), she answered "I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to me be fulfilled." (V38)
Genesis 18:12
When the Angel of the Lord told Abraham that your wife will have a son next year at this time, Sarah disbelieved the promise and laughed to herself.
As we scan through the human history in Bible, we can see that God has been consistently talking to His children from time to time and revealing His will in their lives. The only thing that seemed inconsistent though, is the way His children believed those Promises and Counsels in their lives.
The situation is not much different today, even though we have a huge group of witnesses as per Hebrews 11 but still sometimes we are not able to imitate their Faith and put our Blind Trust on God in all situations of our lives.
Mary a simple Jewish woman with not much traditional background to boast, once had an extraordinary encounter with God. The angel Gabriel appeared before Mary and told her that she is the chosen one. She is the one through whom a savior will be born.
May I request you to pause at this moment and consider this situation. How we would have responded to God's call in such a situation. Mary has all the right to disbelief and disregard God's promises. We can broadly classify Christians as follows, on the basis how they may react if such a situation happens in their lives:
1. We may have Christians who start doubting from the stage 1 itself. Questions like, Am I really the one? Why would God choose me at all? This can't be true etc. They never accept their shortcomings or weaknesses and never allow Holy Spirit to take control in their lives.
2. We may have Christians who doesn't deny such an experience but still can't believe it wholeheartedly but who look at the circumstances around and start doubting the promises of God.
3. We may have Christians who blindly trust and submit to the God's will from the very beginning. Who prefer to say "But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."" Psalms 31:14
As per me Virgin Mary more or less belonged to the Type 2 of Christians but what I admire is her Humbleness and Honesty. Yes she had some doubts but instead of trying to lie to the spirit of God she rather choose to open her doubts before God. When Angel of God explained her how she will be used by the God and how the savior will be born she understood and trusted that and never doubted that promise again in her life.
Sarah on the other hand even after being found out by God's angel that she disbelieved, she chose to hide her doubts. God had to ultimately end the discussion by telling her that she lied. What a pathetic situation for a christian when we are found wanting in the eyes of God.
I believe since it was God's divine plans in the life of Abraham that must come to Pass, that God still used Sarah to be the mother of Nations but we can't guarantee that we can be this lucky to receive the promises in our lives even after doubting the Promises of God.
Its not uncommon that in all the ages there existed Christians who Laugh hearing the Promises and Counsel of God and there are Christians who Submit to the Will of God and believe His Promises just like Mary did. Doubts are sometimes a natural reaction of a feeble human mind but what is unnatural, is Accepting our Fears and Doubts and presenting them as it is to God and asking for His divine Grace to overcome these fears and doubts and put our complete trust on Him and submit our Lives fully into the hands of our God.
Let me conclude my thoughts by asking you a question.
When angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her the good news that she will conceive and give birth to a son (V 26-37), she answered "I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to me be fulfilled." (V38)
Genesis 18:12
When the Angel of the Lord told Abraham that your wife will have a son next year at this time, Sarah disbelieved the promise and laughed to herself.
As we scan through the human history in Bible, we can see that God has been consistently talking to His children from time to time and revealing His will in their lives. The only thing that seemed inconsistent though, is the way His children believed those Promises and Counsels in their lives.
The situation is not much different today, even though we have a huge group of witnesses as per Hebrews 11 but still sometimes we are not able to imitate their Faith and put our Blind Trust on God in all situations of our lives.
Mary a simple Jewish woman with not much traditional background to boast, once had an extraordinary encounter with God. The angel Gabriel appeared before Mary and told her that she is the chosen one. She is the one through whom a savior will be born.
May I request you to pause at this moment and consider this situation. How we would have responded to God's call in such a situation. Mary has all the right to disbelief and disregard God's promises. We can broadly classify Christians as follows, on the basis how they may react if such a situation happens in their lives:
1. We may have Christians who start doubting from the stage 1 itself. Questions like, Am I really the one? Why would God choose me at all? This can't be true etc. They never accept their shortcomings or weaknesses and never allow Holy Spirit to take control in their lives.
2. We may have Christians who doesn't deny such an experience but still can't believe it wholeheartedly but who look at the circumstances around and start doubting the promises of God.
3. We may have Christians who blindly trust and submit to the God's will from the very beginning. Who prefer to say "But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."" Psalms 31:14
As per me Virgin Mary more or less belonged to the Type 2 of Christians but what I admire is her Humbleness and Honesty. Yes she had some doubts but instead of trying to lie to the spirit of God she rather choose to open her doubts before God. When Angel of God explained her how she will be used by the God and how the savior will be born she understood and trusted that and never doubted that promise again in her life.
Sarah on the other hand even after being found out by God's angel that she disbelieved, she chose to hide her doubts. God had to ultimately end the discussion by telling her that she lied. What a pathetic situation for a christian when we are found wanting in the eyes of God.
I believe since it was God's divine plans in the life of Abraham that must come to Pass, that God still used Sarah to be the mother of Nations but we can't guarantee that we can be this lucky to receive the promises in our lives even after doubting the Promises of God.
Its not uncommon that in all the ages there existed Christians who Laugh hearing the Promises and Counsel of God and there are Christians who Submit to the Will of God and believe His Promises just like Mary did. Doubts are sometimes a natural reaction of a feeble human mind but what is unnatural, is Accepting our Fears and Doubts and presenting them as it is to God and asking for His divine Grace to overcome these fears and doubts and put our complete trust on Him and submit our Lives fully into the hands of our God.
Let me conclude my thoughts by asking you a question.
Which Group are you In?
Do you Laugh and Disregard the Promises and Counsels of God in your life or Do you believe God's Promises and Submit fully to His Will in your life?
Believe me your Attitude and Outlook towards God's promises and His will, can redefine your whole Christian purpose in life.
Psalm 9:10 "Those who know your name will Trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you."
In His Vineyard,
Santosh Thankachan
Believe me your Attitude and Outlook towards God's promises and His will, can redefine your whole Christian purpose in life.
Psalm 9:10 "Those who know your name will Trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you."
In His Vineyard,
Santosh Thankachan
