Advent Daily Devotional: December 6
December 6 by Sharyl Braddock
“Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the most high, and the lord god will give him THE throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1: 31-33
The first words of this scripture, “Now listen”, speak to me. The angel wanted Mary to truly listen to what he was asking of her. I have been in a similar position. When Ken first dealt with God’s call to missions, he broached me with this question, “Have you, Sharyl, ever thought of being a missionary?” Are you kidding me! Of course, that had never crossed my mind! We were wonderfully comfortable in our home, our church, our family (3 small children), and Ken’s work with the U.S. Postal Service. Why would I change anything? But God was persistent in His call upon Ken’s life and mine. Once I honestly prayed and LISTENED to God, it was truly clear to me that we should pursue His call upon us. He would take care of us!
Now fast forward to today, here in Midwest City, after having served on the mission field in Tanzania and Zimbabwe, then again in Taiwan. The end of this scripture passage says, “And His kingdom will have no end.” That is exactly what we found in living overseas and plugging into the culture and society of other individuals, both the saved and the unsaved. His kingdom has no end. He reigns eternal here and now, there and then, and everywhere. Mary’s call was a staggering assignment! Yet she LISTENED to His call and OBEYED. That is what we are to do every day – listen and obey. When I think I am too small to do His will I am astonished to find that He empowers me for all He asks. He only asks that we LISTEN to His call on our lives and OBEY. Mary LISTENED AND OBEYED, assuring that “His kingdom will have no end!”