Submissive to God’s Plan

November 16

(Luke 1:38 NIV) ““I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said.””

(Psalms 81:11-12 NIV) “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. {12} So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.”

(2 Chronicles 30:8-9 NIV) “Do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; submit to the Lord. Come to the sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. {9} If you return to the Lord, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”

When Mary came to a fork in the road, she chose the faith way. She was submissive to God's plan. Scripture does not say that she understood it completely -- she was simply submissive to God’s plan. That is the challenge for today’s Christian. Submit to God. Do not be like those in Israel’s history who developed stubborn hearts and went their own way. Ignoring God’s will, and refusing to follow His ways, can be toxic to a nation. A stiff-necked people incur stiff penalties from the Lord. Their children suffer because of their stubborn refusal to live under God’s authority. Do not be found among those who refuse to submit to God. If you are among the rebellious, repent and return to the Lord. Christ is full of grace and mercy -- but to enjoy His grace and mercy, we must be among those who say to God, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” --  Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day