The postal worker informed me, “That will cost $7.38.” Ok no big deal. I pulled out my visa card. “Oh, we don’t accept credit cards for amounts under $10.” “HUMMMM,” I thought to myself, “that needs to be posted at the front window before anyone walks up to your counter.” Apparently it is I just failed to acknowledge the sign. Well, what to do now? As I was about to put away my handy dandy credit card, being so helpful the postal worker offered, “I have a solution. Would you like to buy a roll of holiday stamps to go with your shipment?” How thoughtful was that I ask you?
Everything has a cost. Sometimes you have to pay more than you had originally planned for. I do have a tendency to just shop and never consider the cost of a purchase. It has made for some uncomfortable conversations with my husband. Like the time I had just learned the one click shop button on Amazon. I accidentally hit it before considering the cost of the $400 prelit Christmas trees that sit on my front porch, and I accidentally ordered 2 of them. That one click button has huge consequences.
Mary, the mother of our Lord, hit the one click button also. “I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to me be fulfilled.” Her “yes” could have cost her huge. It could have cost her her life, but she knew the blessings of her obedience far out weighed the consequences she was about to face. Mary knew the cost, but she obeyed willingly any way.
What command is the Lord asking you to obey?
What is the cost of obedience?
What are the blessing of obedience?
Do the blessings of obedience outweigh the cost of obedience?
Each of us reap the blessings because Mary said, “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Mary was just the vessel the Lord used to bring His Son into our messy lives, and because Jesus came, we have the opportunity to be adopted as sons and daughters of the Most High God.
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