LSEM > Devotions > Let it Be

Let it Be

  • December 17, 2019
  • Posted by: Carolyn Mahal
  • Category: Devotions
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And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” – Luke 1:38

The days and weeks that lead up to Christmas have become a terribly busy time. While the church celebrates Advent and Christians are instructed to prepare for the coming of Christ, the rest of the world is busy making its own preparations. There are trees to be decorated, lights and ornaments to be hung, presents to buy and wrap, meals to plan, trips to take, parties to attend, and schedules that must be followed. It seems like a lot of fuss, but these things are all considered extremely important. After all, if you were to miss any of them, you’d be running the risk of having a less than perfect Christmas celebration.

So, what constitutes a perfect Christmas? It’s different for everyone in the specifics, but what everyone has in common is an idyllic set of traditions that must happen lest the holiday seem incomplete. It’s only a theory, but feel free to test it by making unexpected announcements this year of new meal ideas or a random switch of the time your family exchanges gifts.

This really isn’t breaking news. We are creatures of habit and traditions are an important piece of any family gathering. When times of change come upon our Christmas celebrations, we may begrudgingly accept it, but in doing so we also begin the process of longing for the joys of our Christmases gone by; more perfect than any Hallmark Christmas Movie writer could every devise! The last thing you would ever expect anyone to say about the loss of their traditional family Christmas would be, “let it be.” However, that is exactly what happened in advance of the very first Christmas celebration.

Gabriel’s appearance and subsequent message to Mary was undoubtedly shocking. It was not only a life-altering decree for her, but it was the opening act of God’s long-awaited promise coming to life. The virgin would be with child and would soon be giving birth to the very Son of God. His name was to be Jesus and He would be the Savior the world had waited for since Adam and Eve left Eden. Talk about a change of plans! Having heard all of this, Mary’s response from Luke 1:38 is nothing short of amazing. “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” This is not the answer that most people would give. The majority of us would begin listing the reasons why this would ruin everything we had planned. But not Mary. She accepted the news and the ramifications that would come with it. Her life would never be the same with one important exception: God would continue to be there with her every step of the way. Perhaps this amazing demonstration of faith displayed by Mary is why God chose her in the first place!

I don’t know what your Christmas celebration will look like. Maybe you’ll be surrounded by family singing Christmas carols by a roaring fire. Perhaps your version of a white Christmas will be featuring the white sands of a beautiful beach. Some will celebrate for the first without someone you love present while others may be joining a new family for the first time. Whatever your festivities may look like, know that like Mary, God is with you through all of it, keeping His promise to send “him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Peace be unto you and yours now and always!

 

Devotion by Richard Schumacher

LSEM Director of Programs & Services