Accepting

Main Point: The better I know God the more I will be able to accept his will for my life.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” —Luke 1:26-28

God is always with us, but he is even closer in the most trying times.

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” —Luke 1:29-33

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” —Luke 1:34

We can question God’s will in a way that he finds acceptable.

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” —Luke 1:35-37

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. —Luke 1:38

We don’t have to know or understand everything to take God at his word.

“I do not get to know God and then do His will. I get to know Him more deeply by doing His will.” —Phillip Yancey

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. —Luke 2:19

Life doesn’t always go according to our plans, but God is still always at work.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. —Proverbs 3:5-6

Takeaway: Build a relationship with God so strong that accepting his will becomes your natural response.

Discussion Questions

1. Who is your favorite person from the Biblical Christmas accounts? What about their story resonates with you?
2. When have you been the most aware of God’s presence in your life?
3. What are the differences between how Mary questioned God’s plan and how Zechariah did?
4. Phillip Yancey said “I do not get to know God and then do His will. I get to know Him more deeply by doing His will.” Have you found this to be true in your own life?

Table Discussion Question: Have you ever felt like things in life were messed up because it wasn’t going according to your plan, but eventually you realized that God was still at work? How did that change your level of trust with God going forward? Was it pivotal in shaping your relationship with him?