WEDNESDAY December 9, 2020

Delighting in Doing God’s Will

“Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
Luke 1:36-38

The angel Gabriel greatly encouraged Mary by telling her how the Lord had already worked in the life of her close relative. Elizabeth her cousin had been barren and was now past the natural ability to have a child. Yet God had done the impossible; miraculously, Elizabeth conceived a child. God did something far greater in the life of Mary. As a virgin, the Holy Spirit would come upon her; she would carry the Son of God in her womb.

Mary willingly submitted herself to be used by the Lord. She voiced her full submission to God’s plan: “Let it be to me according to your word.” Mary’s reaction revealed her heart of faith, which was completely different from Zacharias the priest. When the angel Gabriel told him that Elizabeth was to have a child, he doubted the possibility, thinking they were too old to have children (Luke 1:18). Zacharias was rebuked by the angel for his unbelief, but Mary delighted to do the will of God––by faith.

In Psalm 40:8, David expressed his attitude towards doing the will of God. He wrote: “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” This Psalm was also prophetic; it spoke of Christ and His willingness to do His Father’s will. Jesus said to the people who followed Him: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). What was the Father’s perfect will in the life of Christ? He was to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16), to give salvation to anyone who had the faith to believe in Him.

Do you delight in doing the will of God?

God hates sin and can never look with pleasure upon iniquity, but where men seek to do God's will He responds in genuine affection.
~A.W. Tozer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!