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Luke 1


When I was about 5 years old, I was given the opportunity to play Mary in our church Christmas pageant. No, not because I was a great actress or had any stage presence, but probably because Mary had no speaking part. My brother, a mere 13 months older than myself, was asked to portray Joseph alongside me. Again, probably because Joseph didn’t have to say anything and we were both painfully shy kids. I know the role of Mary is coveted by little girls in Christmas plays round the country, but for some reason I was adamant that I was NOT going to be Mary, instead settling for a bit part on the sidelines.


A number of years ago our church held a Christmas pageant in which all of the kids participated in some way. That year “Mary” definitely stole the show as she carried baby Jesus down the aisle. She was an adorable golden-haired 6 or 7 year old, just old enough to carry her several-month old baby brother in front of an audience and calmly sticking a pacifier in his mouth when he started to make noise. At church the next Sunday, everyone told the mother what a perfect little Mary and baby Jesus they were. The mother laughed and explained that her daughter, when asked to play Mary, also refused that role and wanted to play a part more on the sidelines. Her mom pointed out to us that the real Mary probably didn’t ask to be Mary either. Honestly, I had never thought of Mary that way before. Here she was, a mere girl, being told by an angel that she was going to conceive, give birth to, and raise the Son of the Most High? What teenager, let alone adult, wouldn’t be completely freaked out by that? I’m sure Mary was more than a little terrified, but instead of making excuses or saying “No way,” she says one of my many favorite statements in the Bible: ”I am the Lord’s servant…May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38 NIV)

What is God asking of you today? Is it something far out of your comfort zone? Are you wanting to just tell God “No way” or give a laundry list of excuses? Or, like Mary, are you willing to tell Him “I am the Lord’s servant…May it be to me as you have said.”
~Rachel Craig

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