Simply Yours

Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph. She was looking forward to a very normal life in the Jewish community of Nazareth – until Gabriel showed up. “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28 Mary is thinking, “Who are you? Where did you come from? And what for greeting is this? Where are you going with this?”

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’” Luke 1:30-33 There it is again, “Do not be afraid.” Those words always seem to be in front of something like, “God is going to do something really big here! And he wants you to be involved. But you are going to have to trust him and do what he says.”

Mary seems to have a very uncomplicated and trusting relationship with God because her response was not one of disbelief, but rather, a simple question. “How will this be since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:34 Gabriel tells her how it is to happen and then tells her about Elizabeth being six months pregnant. “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 Mary doesn’t argue but simply says, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1:38

I wonder if I could have let go of my life plans so easily. I think I would have said, “I need some time to think about this. I’ll get back to you in a few months or maybe years and let you know if I’m willing.” Gabriel would have had to make me speechless like Zechariah to get my attention. I wonder how many things I hold on to now when God is saying, “I want you to do this…” and I wine and say, but I have too much to do. I need some down time. I wonder what work of God I leave undone because I am not willing to immediately say, “I am your servant.”

Mary seems to not only be willing, but excited by what is happening. She hurries to see Elizabeth and the moment Mary enters the room, “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!’” Luke 1:41-45 Elizabeth could only have spoken those words by the Holy Spirit. She would have had no other way of knowing. But she quickly confirmed for Mary that it wasn’t a dream and that it was really happening. She was chosen to give birth to the Messiah!

I’ve been part of some good worship with God. My soul is so much in touch with God and his awesomeness I can hardly bear the intense joy. But I cannot fathom what Mary and Elizabeth were feeling at this time. They both had to have been aware of the prophecies and realized that they were being fulfilled through them. Mary begins to sing a beautiful song of worship to her God.

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name… He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” Luke 1:46-49; 52-55 The upside down kingdom is already apparent in Mary’s song. Jesus was coming to turn things around. He would bring rulers down and elevate the humble, feed the hungry and send the rich away empty.

What faith this young woman had! What uncomplicated faith! No wonder God chose her among all women in the world. How often I have to still my knowledgeable mind and quiet my wisdom of this world in order to hear the uncomplicated words of Jesus. Lord, please help me to simply be your servant, trusting you to do what you said you would do.