To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women – Luke 1:27-28.

Can you imagine the love Mary had for God? She loved Him so much, until she was willing to go through whatever she had to go through to be a vessel that He could use. Mary was young, poor and a female; all the characteristics people of her day would make her seem unusable by God for any major task.

Gabriel was sent from God to give a message to Mary that she was highly favored by God, and she was chosen by God to give birth to Jesus Christ. Mary could have rejected the offer because she was very much aware during that era if a woman became pregnant and she wasn’t married, she would be stoned to death. She didn’t look at the consequences she would have to endure because of her obedience, but made the statement “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”.

Although God favored Mary to give birth to our Lord and Savior, He is still working miracles by choosing both men and women to give birth to spiritual babies. To be birth from the natural to the spiritual is a miracle in itself. An act of obedience doesn’t always come with joy or happiness until the process is over. Just as giving birth in the natural is painful, it’s also painful to give birth to spiritual babies. Labor pains come with spiritual birthing, the act of fervent prayer, and fasting, reading and studying the word of God. Going through trials and tribulations that will produce the Fruit of the Spirit, and the Gifts of the Spirit to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and to edify the body of Christ.

Spiritual birth will also cause one to be rejected and persecuted because of obedience. Stones of lies will be thrown, ditches will be dug to see if you will fall. Sometimes you will be labeled as thinking you’re better than others. The act of obedience will cause pain and suffering, but the joy that it brings when the birthing is over and the spiritual baby comes forth is everlasting.

Acts of obedience will cause one to go to the Potter House to be molded and shaped into the image of God; to the point when He looks at you, He will only see His Son. God is looking for those who will do an act of obedience to set the captives free, to be an example of His love here on earth, to build and established, to mend broken hearts and spirits with the Word of God. A vessel like Mary that is willing to do acts of obedience.