People I know are all over the map of emotions – joyful,
grieving, fulfilled, empty, hopeful, despairing. How is your heart today? Perhaps you are afraid to let yourself think
about that question. What is being covered over by the activities, the
superficial laughter, the religious words? If you admit to yourself that life
is not as you hoped it might be, you think you may not be able to recover. You
are not the first to doubt, to feel alone, to wonder why! But, in the Christmas story there is a person
who made a choice to trust!
There is a part of Mary’s story that inspires the hurting, the wondering, the fearful, the doubting.
This young woman, probably still in her teens, is visited in her village by a
messenger from the Lord. “Greetings, you
who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his
words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be." (Luke 1:28-29,
NIV) The angel goes on to tell her that
she is pregnant, not by natural means, but by God’s will, and that she will
bear the Messiah. Her life is about to turn inside out. Her pending marriage
will be put at risk. She will leave her home and go live with her relative,
Elizabeth, to avoid the scandal that would break over her when it became
obvious she was with child.
And, how does she respond to this? That is where I find words to hold onto. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her." (Luke 1:38, NIV)
And, how does she respond to this? That is where I find words to hold onto. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her." (Luke 1:38, NIV)
Her faith causes her to submit
to God, to accept His message. Mary becomes part of the work of salvation,
not just the womb in which Jesus was carried, but a part of His ministry. She
nurtured the Son of God. She was a witness to His miracles, stood at the foot
of His cross, knew His Resurrection life. She turned belief to faith.
Do not miss the subtle implications of the story. There is
an interplay of the will of God and the will of Mary. She is ‘highly favored,’ though we are not told
of any specific reasons that she found this favor. The ordinary young woman,
nobody really, from nowhere, received grace, God’s unmerited favor. But, it is
clear that she knew God, that her heart and mind were inclined to love and
serve Him. God looked on her with His
grace. She looked on Him with her faith. And, we know the rest.
God sees you today! He sees the good, the bad, the
successes, the failures, the up’s and the down’s. The good news for you (and
me!) is that He sees us through eyes of love and offers grace. Just settle
yourself in that statement. The prayer of Paul reminds us that when we receive
the grace, we find love, an amazing love. He says I pray for your understanding
to increase "so that Christ may
dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and
established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how
wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love
that surpasses knowledge—…” That
love is not just to make us feel warm, fuzzy, affirming emotions. It is
transformative! When we join Mary in faithful
submission, entering into His love – we are “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians
3:17-19, NIV)
Many turn the words ‘submission’ and ‘surrender’ into ugly
ones because they only think of the cruel who exploit, the powerful who oppress.
God is not that, dear friend. He is good. He is not tame, nor is His will
always comfortable, but He is right and He is love. We can TRUST Him with our
whole heart, soul, body, and mind. Will
we, like Mary, say “as You have said”? Become a participant in the Divine plan that He
is working in you. You, too, are ‘highly favored.’
Take this word from the Word to heart. Savor it. "We
ask God to give you a complete
understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make
you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then
the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will
continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to
know God better and better. We
also pray that you will be strengthened
with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and
endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always
thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs
to God’s holy people, who live in the light." (Colossians 1:9-12,
NLT)
I ask once more - Will we, like Mary, say “as You have said”?
May you be blessed with joy unspeakable, peace overflowing,
and love unending. Thanks for reading along this year in these daily musing on
the Word.
CoffeeBreak With The Word will be back after a Christmas
break. Merry Christmas!
___________
Mary
Did You Know
(a spoken word presentation of this song.
Invest 5 minutes to watch it. It’s beautiful!)
(a spoken word presentation of this song.
Invest 5 minutes to watch it. It’s beautiful!)
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Would one day walk on
water
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Would save our sons
and daughters
Did you know
That your baby boy
Has come to make you
new
This Child that you
delivered
Will soon deliver you
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Would give sight to
the blind man
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Would calm a storm
with His hand
Did you know
That your baby boy
Has walked where
angels trod
And when you kiss your
little baby
You've kissed the face
of God
Oh Mary did you know
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live
again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the
Lamb
Oh Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Is Lord of all
creation
Mary did you know
That your baby boy
Will one day rule the
nations
Did you know
That your baby boy
Is heaven's perfect
Lamb
And the sleeping Child
you're holding
Is the great I Am
Oh Mary oh
Buddy Greene | Mark Lowry
© 1991, 1993 Rufus Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Curb Word Music (Admin. by WC Music Corp.)
CCLI License # 810055
