at www.manymeadows.blogspot.comI’ve been thinking about Mary, mother of Jesus this week.
Can you imagine the thoughts and feelings she must have experienced finding out that she was going to carry the long awaited Messiah? I’m sure she experienced fear and uncertainty along with morning sickness and all the accompanying child-bearing issues.
But that’s not what I’ve been thinking most about. I’ve been thinking about why she was chosen, why she was found worthy.
You see, we know she was very young, so she had not yet been tested in long-term relationships, or maybe even much temptation. In her short life, she probably hadn’t been through enough to show how she would handle adversity. She didn’t excel at the levels we may consider a “mature”, godly person to have. We sure wouldn’t have chosen her.
But God did. And I think he chose her especially for one reason.
She was willing. Willing to follow the calling on her life. Willing to obey. Willing to do whatever her Father asked of her. She was a servant. She knew the voice of her Master.
Are we willing? Do we recognize His voice enough to be able to listen? And are we even listening?
Oh, may our hearts be willing and may our spiritual ears be open to the gentle voice of our Master! That’s really all he asks of us.
Robin
Thank you for the reminder of our surrender to him no matter what we are thinking/feeling- humiliation, doubt, misunderstanding. Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to get better at listening to Him - and obeying. And, to think sometimes, we struggle when He asks of us to do little things like call someone or walk up to our neighbor. It's not like He's asking us to give birth to the Savior of all mankind!
ReplyDeleteOops... the verse is Romans 9:18, not 9:1u. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. This is a good topic.
ReplyDeleteTherefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden. --Romans 9:1u
This verse has mystified me for so long. It's humbling. It shows me that I can take no credit for what God has done in my life, as if there was something good in me that drew Him near.
Only the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit could change my heart's attitude toward our Lord. He did this in the midst of me kicking against Him. Amazing...
I'm willing because God was merciful. I'd venture to say the same about Mary.
Oh, I pray that I'm willing!
ReplyDeleteI think about those times and all the craziness that was in the world. God talks about how much more open minded children are compared to adults. That someone younger is more incline to be open with their mind and heart. It seems as people get older instead of giving things to God...we tend to hold on to them instead and compare everyone else to those mishaps in our life. We hold people account for something they have not done yet.
ReplyDeleteso this got me thinking and so I started to surf the web and saw this...Mary was very poor, you could say she lived in the hood, but God loved her anyway and (Mary’s story teaches us, first, that no matter who you are, the Lord can use you. You may feel that your ability, experience, or education makes you an unlikely candidate for God’s service. Don’t limit God’s choices. He can use you if you trust Him.} God doesn't care if you have money, education or anything else....as long as you know WHO HE is...
Such a reminder I need! I am doing much better at being obedient. Not always willing, but much more obedient. Joe and I talked about being obedient last night in the car and praying when God says, "Look, get out of the way, this is Me here, not you." Its been huge on Joe's heart lately. So Im working on willingness.
ReplyDeleteone of my favorite verses is - " I am the Lord's servant" Mary replied, "May it be to me as you have said" Then the angel left her. Luke 1:38. This is what she said after the angel told her she was going to give birth to Jesus. She just said - I am the servant of the Lord and what He says i will do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding us of these things!! You are such an inspiration!! and Merry Christmas!!