James Smith

"Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." Luke 1:45

Mary's faith was tried, for she was called to believe what no one else ever was asked to; and the whole highly improbable. She was to believe that though a virgin — she would have a son; and though a sinner — her son should be pure and holy; that though her son — He would be called the Son of the Highest; and that though her family was so poor — yet God would give unto Him the throne of his father David.

All this was directly opposite to appearances; but God spoke — and Mary believed. This was the ground of her faith. She knew He always intended what He said, could perform all that He promised, frequently did wondrous things, and never failed to fulfill His word; therefore she surrendered herself up, and said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word!"

She visited her cousin Elizabeth, told her the whole of the circumstances, and she said, "Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." She honored God by believing His word — and God honored her by the testimony of her aged cousin. She was blessed of God, and He did fulfill all that He had spoken unto her.

Mary is proposed for our example. God has spoken to us. He requires us to believe, and to every believer he will fulfill his word. He speaks to our experience, and promises according to our needs.

Are we guilty? Do our sins appear of a flagrant and alarming character? He says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord; though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. I, even I. am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and will not remember your sins."

Reader, do you believe this? Do you believe that God calls you to Him, just as you are, and calls you on purpose to forgive you? That if you confess your sins — He is faithful and just to forgive your sins, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness? This is the fact of the case, that God stands pledged to forgive every sinner who frankly confesses his sins at His throne, and to do so for His own name's sake.

Again, are you thirsting for grace and His Holy Spirit? He speaks to you, and says, "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst — I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them." "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon your seed, and my blessing upon your offspring." Do you believe this? God means it. He is faithful to His Word, and He cannot deny Himself.

Once more: are you in perplexity, and know not which way to take? The Lord speaks to your case. He sympathizes with you, and says, "I will bring the blind by a way which they do not know; I will lead them in paths that they had not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." Do you believe this? If so, "Blessed is he who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told him from the Lord."

The promises are intended to . . .
disperse our fears,
raise our expectations,
exercise our faith,
encourage us in our prayers,
and fill us with joy and peace.

Whoever believes them, and pleads them before God in prayer — will have them fulfilled to him to the very letter.

To doubt them, is to reflect upon the veracity of God.

To neglect them, is to despise our own mercies.

To question the fulfillment of them, is to question whether the promiser is God. His wisdom, knowledge, unchangeableness, power, veracity, faithfulness, covenant, oath, and the blood of Jesus — all conspire to say, "There shall be a fulfillment of those things which were spoken by the Lord." Let us, therefore . . .
resist our fears,
condemn our unbelief,
confess our doubts before the Lord,
and seek for more faith.

Our God gives liberally and upbraids not; He will give us more grace; and enable us to believe, not only to the saving of the soul — but will fill us with joy and peace in believing!