God's Plan for Mary – And For Us
God didn't book an appointment with Mary. Instead, he fulfilled His plan for her life and ours at the time of His divine choosing.
By Pastor Kevin Wade
It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of the Christmas season – the shopping, the decorating, the parties, and the family gatherings. But as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, it's important that we take a step back and reflect on the profound and unexpected way that God fulfilled his promise of a Messiah.
In the Gospel of Luke, we read the account of how the angel Gabriel appeared to a young woman named Mary, delivering the astounding news that she would conceive and give birth to the Son of God. This was no ordinary pregnancy – Mary was a virgin, pledged to be married to Joseph. The angel explained that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her, and the child she would bear would be called the Son of the Most High.
I imagine Mary was both exhilarated and bewildered by this revelation. She asked the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34). This was not a question of doubt, but a practical inquiry about how such a miraculous thing could take place. The angel reassured her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (Luke 1:35).
Rather than questioning God's plan further, Mary's response was one of humble submission: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38). What an incredible example of faith! Mary did not fully understand how this would all come to pass, but she trusted wholeheartedly in God's word and committed herself to His will.
This is a profound lesson for us as we navigate the uncertainties and challenges of our own lives. How often do we find ourselves questioning God's plans, wondering how He could possibly work things out for our good? We want everything to make sense and fit into our own tidy expectations. But Mary's example reminds us that true faith involves trusting God even when we don't have all the answers.
The angel's visit to Mary was just the beginning of God's unexpected arrival on the scene. After Mary visited her relative Elizabeth, she broke out into a song of praise, declaring, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47). She recognized that God was fulfilling His ancient promises through this miraculous pregnancy.
When Mary returned home, she faced the scorn and suspicion of her community. Imagine the gossip and judgment she must have endured, being an unwed, pregnant teenager. Yet Mary held fast to her faith, allowing God's plan to unfold despite the cost to her own reputation and comfort.
In the same way, following God's unexpected leading in our lives may come at a price. We may face opposition, misunderstanding, or ridicule from those around us. But like Mary, we must be willing to surrender our own agendas and trust that God's ways are higher than our own.
As we celebrate Christmas this year, let's reflect on Mary's example of faith and obedience. When God invites us into His unexpected plans, may we respond with open hearts and hands, saying, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." For nothing is impossible with God, and He delights to work in ways that confound our human logic and expectations.
The arrival of Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, was the most significant event in human history. And it all began with the humble, trusting response of a young woman who was willing to say yes to God, no matter the cost. May that same spirit of faith and surrender mark our own lives as we seek to honor Christ this Christmas season and beyond.
By Pastor Kevin Wade
It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of the Christmas season – the shopping, the decorating, the parties, and the family gatherings. But as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, it's important that we take a step back and reflect on the profound and unexpected way that God fulfilled his promise of a Messiah.
In the Gospel of Luke, we read the account of how the angel Gabriel appeared to a young woman named Mary, delivering the astounding news that she would conceive and give birth to the Son of God. This was no ordinary pregnancy – Mary was a virgin, pledged to be married to Joseph. The angel explained that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her, and the child she would bear would be called the Son of the Most High.
I imagine Mary was both exhilarated and bewildered by this revelation. She asked the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34). This was not a question of doubt, but a practical inquiry about how such a miraculous thing could take place. The angel reassured her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (Luke 1:35).
Rather than questioning God's plan further, Mary's response was one of humble submission: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38). What an incredible example of faith! Mary did not fully understand how this would all come to pass, but she trusted wholeheartedly in God's word and committed herself to His will.
This is a profound lesson for us as we navigate the uncertainties and challenges of our own lives. How often do we find ourselves questioning God's plans, wondering how He could possibly work things out for our good? We want everything to make sense and fit into our own tidy expectations. But Mary's example reminds us that true faith involves trusting God even when we don't have all the answers.
The angel's visit to Mary was just the beginning of God's unexpected arrival on the scene. After Mary visited her relative Elizabeth, she broke out into a song of praise, declaring, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47). She recognized that God was fulfilling His ancient promises through this miraculous pregnancy.
When Mary returned home, she faced the scorn and suspicion of her community. Imagine the gossip and judgment she must have endured, being an unwed, pregnant teenager. Yet Mary held fast to her faith, allowing God's plan to unfold despite the cost to her own reputation and comfort.
In the same way, following God's unexpected leading in our lives may come at a price. We may face opposition, misunderstanding, or ridicule from those around us. But like Mary, we must be willing to surrender our own agendas and trust that God's ways are higher than our own.
As we celebrate Christmas this year, let's reflect on Mary's example of faith and obedience. When God invites us into His unexpected plans, may we respond with open hearts and hands, saying, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." For nothing is impossible with God, and He delights to work in ways that confound our human logic and expectations.
The arrival of Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, was the most significant event in human history. And it all began with the humble, trusting response of a young woman who was willing to say yes to God, no matter the cost. May that same spirit of faith and surrender mark our own lives as we seek to honor Christ this Christmas season and beyond.
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