NUGGETS: Mary in her yieldedness
As we enter into the time we have set aside to honor the birth of our Savior, I’d like for us to look at Mary and her life as a type of church, and as an individual. Mary had life altering decisions to make, just as we have on a regular basis. I want us to look at those choices today, in Luke 1.
We know the story, how Gabriel was sent to a virgin named Mary, betrothed to a man named Joseph. Betrothal in those days was almost as binding as marriage. The angel told Mary she was highly favored and chosen by God to give birth to Jesus. He told her how great Jesus would be. I’m sure it was hard for her to comprehend, so she asked “how can this be, for I know not a man.” Then Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Highest would overshadow her. The Holy one to be born would be called the Son of God — showing the Trinity, the triune God at work. Cults cannot accept the virgin birth, so they improvise and change the word of God to something their brains can believe. Yet verse 37 says, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” It is something like, when the Spirit of Jesus is placed in us, in the experience Jesus called “Born Again.” When someone says they don’t believe in miracles, I know they have not been “Born Again.” Because that, is the greatest miracle there could ever be. To think that the creator of this universe would come into my heart and live in me! Christians do not have any trouble believing in miracles.
Notice what we sometimes read over and don’t see: The first thing was, Mary kept herself pure before God, she was a virgin. She was troubled, but not rejecting the move of God. When the angel said “fear not,” she was curious, questioning, wanting to know and understand. She was also willing to listen, even though this experience could upset her whole life. Then she said “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). She yielded to the word of God. Jesus said “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” He was not just talking about the Ten Commandments. The New Testaments has many commandments in it.
The example she set for us is “she kept herself.” The Bible tells us to keep ourselves. All along we have to say no to the world, the flesh and the devil. She was curious. God has hidden things for us so we will seek Him. She questioned what was happening.
We are to judge the prophecies and use our ability to discern the things around us. We have been given the ability to understand things before we just jump out and do something. She was willing to listen. Sometimes we have to get still before God and just be willing to sit quietly till we hear from Him. With TV, radio and mp3 players, there is so much noise in our surroundings nowadays. The Lord said “Be still and know that I am God.” When was the last time we were in a quiet place with God? When did we hear His voice last? He said “My sheep hear My voice.” Her big statement was “Let it be done to me according to your word.” She was totally yielded to the word He spoke.
May we let her example influence us to desire and say “Let it be done to me according to Your Word.”
