Impossible

Luke 1:30-38 (message)

But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

He will be great,
be called 'Son of the Highest.'
The Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob's house forever—
no end, ever, to his kingdom."

Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man."

The angel answered,

The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
will be called Holy, Son of God.

"And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."

And Mary said,

Yes, I see it all now:
I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
just as you say.

Then the angel left her.

"Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."

What a great thing to hear. We need this reminder from time to time.

Nothing, you see, impossible with God.

What kind of response would that get at your weekly team/business/professional meeting?

"Well boss, I know it doesn't look good right now...but nothing, you see, is impossible with God."

Most of us could imagine a Trump-like "you're fired!" raining down upon us.

It's tough to live by this principle when it's so little believed or practiced all around us. But, then, the same was true in Mary's day, too.

And, the truth is that this understanding is no "easy" way out. It's a tough way. A way of faith and determination.

Mary is told some quite unbelievable news, from an amazing, unbelievable source. And then, not only does she learn that she will conceive a child by the Holy Spirit, but that her old cousin Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant as well.

This is a lot to take in.

Her response?

"Let it be with me just as you say."

I want to point out that this is not the typical response of the saints. Most of them argued with God, ran, tried to hide, or otherwise disagreed with their call.

Not Mary. Hers is an example of deep, deep faith and trust.

We would do well to remember her, and to remember that "nothing, you see, is impossible with God."

Prayer: We ask you to help us remember...that nothing is impossible with you. Show us what that could mean in our lives, communities and world.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Luke 1:39-45