FROM a friend==>
:shade:
We overly diminish Mary’s importance because of some people’s over abundance of attitude to her giving her almost the status of God himself.
But she is a good role model.
1: Mary’s status
Elizabeth says she is the most blessed of all women and so did the angel.
She was a servant of God and teaches much about being God’s servant.
She was a simple young teenager lacking status, an ordinary girl, engaged to be married to a local carpenter.
She was no high flyer, without high profile, a complete unknown.
No status, power or influence, a nobody.
Yet God chose her
God took hold of this young insignificant woman from Galilee (does anything good come out o of Galilee?) and used her
He chose her and used her for His power and dignity
God uses small people
Look at Gideon in Judges 6 who said he was the youngest in his family too young for God to use, not a mighty man of valour.
Jeremiah said the same when God called him and thought himself too young to be prophet
Moses too in exodus 3 was reluctant. “Not me Lord I’m not a good speaker...send someone else.
He had been proud and had had power and status and it took God 40 years to bring him to the place where He could use him.
Paul tells us in 1Corinthans: 1 God chooses what amounts to nothing in order to do something
Things with a lack of worldly status can be used in the Kingdom of God.
In fact it can be an advantage, as those who are too pleased with themselves get in Gods way.
If it is unbelievable to us that God can use us we are more likely to be used as we make ourselves available with open hearts and minds.
We may be nobody as far as the world goes but we can become somebody in God.
These are the kinds of people that God uses.
This was the kind of person Mary was.
2: Mary’s shock
Mary’s was shocked at this unexpected encounter with the angel.
She was also deeply troubled and disturbed when greeted by angel.
First of all the angel’s heavenly glory bowled her over. She was amazed that such a thing could be happening to her “but who am I to be so blessed?” she asked
“I am a nobody why would God send you to me?”
She was agitated by the angel and God’s call but the thing she was being asked to do was most
disturbing.
An unmarried teenager to be pregnant and have her reputation ruined?
Engaged to simple man but who probably wouldn’t marry her if she gets pregnant?
Shocking and disturbing.
We all have ideals that maybe we will be asked by God to do things that please us and are comfortable
However, many things God gives us to do may be uncomfortable and disturbing.
Are we prepared to face a challenge as we are called into troublesome waters?
If we know it to be his purpose we do it but it may not be easy.
Jesus said to expect this. He said we must take up our cross daily, deny self and follow Him.
The way for Jesus is not easy so the way of a servant of Jesus is not easy either
Some things will make us uncomfortable
God calls us out of our comfort zones to serve him
Mary had to walk forward into something she did not want to do.
Gods call is often into challenging and difficult things.
Mary agreed to go along with this knowing full well the challenges she would probably face.
We must do the same.
Mary’s surrender
God went to Joseph to prepare him for what was to come, fix things with him ...Mary didn’t know this but even so she agreed. (be it done unto me according to thy will)
It’s so easy to say to God “I surrender everything to you.”
To say, as Mary did: I am your servant, let it happen.
But if it costs something to say these words its hard.
In spite of her reputation being destroyed and her prospects ruined
Mary loved enough to say she wanted to follow God’s plan.
Paul also said this: Everything he held of value was as nothing compared to what he had with God
How much are we prepared to surrender everything for God?.
How much are we prepared to do something God asks us to do? Saying yes easy ...meaning it and following it through is more difficult.
4: Mary’s sure faith strong faith
This pregnancy would have a dreadful impact on her reputation.
And she did not know how it was to be accomplished.
She was no fool and knew the mechanics of it. She knew the necessary activities in order to have a baby so naturally she asked how it was going to happen as she was a virgin and did not think God would want her to sin.
The answer was that God would do a supernatural miracle to bring His son into the world
God touched a Virgin and caused her to have a child...... nothing to do with sex.
Nothing is too difficult for God
Mary’s strong faith in God persuaded her that what is physically impossible becomes possible with God
We must be people of faith to serve God well. Others say he can’t, and won’t believe that God can do all things
Mary’s strong faith in God persuaded her what was not physically possible came to be by the power of God
People of faith must know that God can do things.
God is not bound by human resources. God has infinite resources.
Mountains can be moved seas crossed by God’s power and our faith in it.
Mary believed that God could do it and he did
Paul said don’t be limited by human possibilities.
We need to believe that God can do things that we cannot even dream about.
We must not stay in the comfort of the shallows but move into the depths of Gods power.
Mary was a great character to think about and a great servant of God
She trusted God.
We need to do this in this time of significant difficulty.
God can turn lives around and open up possibilities we don’t know about.
She loved God and laid everything on the line for God.
She had strong faith in God.
We need to believe God for more and more
She surrendered to God
We need to be people who speak about a God who makes a difference
And tell of our God who can turn things around.
We must realise that even though we are insignificant, even though we will be asked to do challenging things we must always trust, surrender and leave all in God’s hands to work His power and turn our insignificance to His will to use for His greatness and glory.
