by Idelette McVicker
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“While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!’�
Luke 11:27-28
The woman in the crowd had such admiration and love for Jesus. She couldn’t imagine a greater blessing than being the woman who carried and raised the Son of God. Jesus shifts the perspective, however. He says Mary is blessed not because she carried and birthed him, but because Mary heard God’s word and obeyed it.
In the same way, we are blessed, not because we fulfill the great calling, but rather when we obey the voice of God. God looks at our heart and sees the willing servant. Is this where I am positioned today? Am I listening for God’s specific word for me and responding as Mary did: “I am the Lord’s servant … May it be to me as you have said.� (Luke 1:38, NIV)
The blessing comes as we walk closely with Him, moving on His shouts and His whispers, willing to follow and trust the Divine.
Thank You, Father, that You value my willing heart and my obedience. Speak to me today, Lord. Your servant is listening. Amen.
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/07/27/im_obedience
Thank you for this insight, Stephen! Sometimes we forget the courage, the risk Mary had to stand up in. Mary had her own Esther moment there. What blessed obedience, indeed.
Mary had perhaps taken willingly a great risk. To conceive before coming together with her betrothed man could render her to the capital punishment as per Moses’ Law.
Of course that would happen only if Joseph refused to take her as his wife. But Mary did not think about that eventuality. All that she was thinking was to obey God.
How many of us would take great risks in testifying Jesus and His Gospel to the pagan society around us?
Obeying God as Mary did is what trusting God.
Thank you for your kind comments.
As I am reading this again, I am struck that we so often value the result of obedience–in this case Mary’s carrying and birthing of Jesus. Jesus’ perspective, however, is that the hearing and obeying itself is blessed. How different from our results oriented society.
This devotion is quite encouraging.
THIS THOUGHT HAS TOUCHED MY LIFE AND IT HAS CHALLENGED ME