What would it be like to be asked to do something that would literally rock your whole world? Let’s take it further. Let’s suppose you are asked to do something so unexpected, so huge, so life-altering AND you are expected to decide right then and there.
What would you do? Hesitate? Question the sanity of the whole thing? Question your sanity? 🙂 Rub your eyes in bewilderment?
Most of us never have to make or face decisions like that. Not like Mary, the mother of Jesus. History and culture suggests she was a young teenager-possibly 13-14 years old-who an angel (Gabriel) appeared to and presented her with the scenario that she would carry the child who “would be named Jesus and that He would be great and called the Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:31-32)
That was news to her! She was a virgin. The baby would not come by natural means but by supernatural means. She is told the child she is going to have will come as a result of the Holy Spirit overshadowing her. All that is needed is for Mary to say, “I’m yours.” She does and the rest is, well, history.
Much could be said for the worship and veneration given to Mary, but that is another topic for another time. My point in this post is not to take issue with a false teaching. It is to highlight her response-her immediate response. Without hesitation or debate or chewing her nails in indecision. She asked one question: “How!” (a logical one I believe) and received back the following response: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Her response was “Sign me up.” Actually, it was more respectful: “I am your servant; let it be.” That needs to be our response as well.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:20 that God can do far more than we can ask or think. Let’s trust Him in that. Let’s fully believe and act on the promise that all things are possible with God.
This is Lady #7 and this ends my posts on the ladies chosen by 7 ladies to speak about on Mother’s Day. If you would like to read about the others you can go to this post which will direct you to the others.
Having come through a season of learning (and perhaps a little unlearning) I think your statement on God doing far more than we can ask or think is spot on. I know I tend to put God in the little box that I am comfortable with. My little introverted box that can be hidden in the back of the room against the wall and go unnoticed. Though that may be the God I am comfortable with, God didn’t call me to be comfortable. He called me to trust and follow. For me to really experience the power and “Impossibilities” that God reveals, I need to open the box and then be willing to go where God leads me.
Opening that box can be a challenging and sometimes scary thing. But it is only when we do open it that we find God sufficient. Then I wonder why it took me so long to do so. SMH
It’s one thing to claim we have faith, and quite another to be willing to act upon God’s requirements of us. Mary bucked everything she knew of her culture and society to fulfill God’s command. That’s no small feat! She is most certainly blessed among women.
Blessings, Bill!
Well said Martha. I need to have that same kind of faith.
I cannot image Mary be so young and the complexity and yet the honor of Gabriel’s message, and her answer was “I am your servant; let it be”, so many lessons in there for us to absorb and unpack. I love Ephesians 3:14-21, I want that to be my pray every morning and every evening. All things are possible through God, when we answer yes the impact of that yes can be so much more far reaching than we can wrap our heads around. Instead of saying I wonder what impact I can make on God’s kingdom, we should be saying I wonder what impact I could make through God if I just say “I am your servant; let it be”
Those 7 words are powerful words for sure. They say, “I am yours.” I want that to always be on my lips. I, too, love that passage in Ephesians 3 Thanks Gail
I really enjoyed these posts on the seven ladies! It was very edifying. Thank you, Pastor Bill.😊🙏
Thank you Cheryl. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed them. The ladies did a super job that morning as well.