Reflecting on Luke 1:26-38
"I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled." (Luke 1:38)"Mary is told in advance what is going to happen.
Imagine this young girl (12,13?) finding out she will be pregnant.
And not in the usual way, with the participation of a husband.
And not a usual child, but the promised Messiah, son of God.
Does she think through the implications of this?
Does she think it will be advantageous to be related to the Messiah?
Or does she think about the scorn that she might face.
Scorn for being an unwed teenager, maybe rejection by her fiancé Joseph?
We do not normally get advance notice about what will happen to us.
Though sometimes we can imagine it…
A doctor says ‘it’s cancer’, and we can imagine our future.
The test says ‘you’re pregnant…
The employer says ‘you’re fired’…
The election results come in, ‘this person is elected’…
These may not be angel announcements.
But they do herald a whole new future of possibilities and/or problems.
What I am focusing on is especially Mary’s response.
First she submits herself to God, ‘I am God’s slave!’
The she literally says, ‘may it happen to me as you have said!’
She surrenders herself to the future God has in mind for her.
She allows herself to be used by God for God’s greater plan.
Even though it will bring uncertainty, grief and pain for her.
Or as Simeon says, “a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:35)
Maybe Mary responded so well because it was an angel.
Maybe if an angel told me in advance, I would accept it better too.
I would like to think so, but honestly, I don’t think so.
Yet it might be helpful to try to surrender more.
The fact is things happen beyond my control all the time.
People in my life make choices that affect me without asking me.
Changes happen at work despite my efforts to prevent them.
Someone gets elected whether I wanted them in or not.
So many things happen beyond our control.
Maybe some kind of surrender would be beneficial.
I am not just saying that we roll over and accept everything.
We need to be active participants for good, whatever happens.
We need to respond in a way that reflects and honours the Jesus Way.
But where surrender could help is in choosing WHAT or WHO we surrender to.
Instead of grumbling and complaining, I could offer myself to the new reality.
‘Lord, I’ve lost my job, and grumbling and complaining won’t help’
‘It is what it is, but use me in this situation to make the most of it.’
‘I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.’
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27)
We cannot control what happens, but we can control our response to it.
When I hear of something life-changing happening, how do I respond.
I know that I will initially surrender to fear, emotion or complaining.
My first words will not be Mary’s words… ‘let it be!’
But I do hope to move beyond this, and to choose a better response.
Given this reality, what is the best thing I can do?
Can I make the most of this opportunity, rather than be beaten by it?
Can I use this bad situation to serve and bless God and others?
Grumbling and complaining may give temporary release for anxiety.
But it will not change things, certainly not for the better.
Rather than surrender to the fear, surrender to the faith.
Hold firmly to the God that continues to hold you, even in this hard situation.
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” Philippians 2:14-16)
Mary’s response shines like a star in a dark sky.
She inspires me to surrender myself to faith, and not to fear.
She challenges me to focus on the opportunities, not the obstacles.
Our current time of world-craziness is an opportunity.
God is still bringing the kingdom of Jesus into the world.
Our challenges and difficulties are not a sign that Satan is winning.
Things may not be going as we hoped or imagined.
But God is using our circumstances to birth Jesus into the world.
Faith trusts that God has something better in mind.
The result of Mary’s pregnancy was more than suffering.
Jesus, the hope of the world, the guarantee of victory, was the result.
Through Mary and Mary’s situation, God has saved all humanity.
I don’t expect my situations will have that same result.
But God is still working through my situations, impacting many.
Those near to me, and those I meet along the way…
Those who are impacted by where this new situation leads me…
In God’s economy, nothing is wasted… “God works for the good!” (Romans 8:28)
“I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)”
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I do not want to face hardships or challenges. I can't expect You to make life easy for me while others struggle. I can only ask that You would strengthen my spirit, so that I could (eventually) respond like Mary, surrendering myself to faith and not to fear.
Use me to bring more Jesus into the world, whatever happens.