Mary's Willing “Yes”: Joy in God's Unexpected Call
Daily Scripture
Luke 1:26-38
26 When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, 27 to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” 29 She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. 31 Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. 33 He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. 36 Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. 37 Nothing is impossible for God.”
38 Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Mary lived in Nazareth, a small hamlet so insignificant it wasn’t even on maps of Palestine at that time. Given what we know of her culture, she was likely a teenager. She had no reason to expect we’d even know her name today! Yet God sent Gabriel to call her to a truly meaningful life mission—not to lead a great army, hold a powerful political office or shape the social life of a major center like Jerusalem. No—to give birth to and raise a son—God’s Son, the promised Savior of the world.
- The angel called Mary “favored one.” Pastor Ginger Gaines-Cirelli noted, “Mary’s blessing…. brought hardship, confusion, and grief but it was still a blessing.” * What qualities would you have looked for in the Messiah’s mother—high social status? An established, stable marriage? Economic security? Mary had none of these, but her simple reply to the angel dwarfed all else: “I am the Lord’s servant…. Let it be with me just as you have said.” How did Mary’s willing response change the world?
- God’s call to Mary was unique in history, just as her son Jesus was unique. But through your own gifts, talents, and circumstances, God calls you to a particular place in the mission of restoring the world. When you sense God nudging you toward service, how do you respond? What helps you, like Mary, say “yes” to what God asks of you?
Prayer
A daily reminder from Pastor Hamilton: Our hope is that tonight or tomorrow morning, continuing through Christmas, each of you will, either in the morning or at night, take the time to write down three things you are thankful for. You might write these in the form of a thank you letter to God or simply write down a journal entry.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you entered our world as a newborn infant, wholly dependent at first on your mother. How grateful I am that you chose Mary to be your mother, and that she willingly did such a good job. Amen.
GPS Insights
Justin Burnett
Justin Burnett, who serves as a Missions Engagement Program Director for Resurrection's Leawood location and is a certified candidate for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church, wrote today's Insights. Justin graduated from Drury University with a bachelor's degree in emergency management and is currently a graduate student at Asbury Theological Seminary. In Justin's spare time, he enjoys theater, preaching, nature, travel, games, and music.
At its heart, the Advent story is about God’s grace, love, and hope that is freely available to all. In today’s Scripture, the Gospel writer relays an angel’s message to Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Through the Incarnation—when God became flesh and blood—the Most High chose to dwell with us. Then, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on Christ’s followers to further God’s mission in the world.
Near the end of today’s selection, the phrase “Nothing is impossible with God” reminds us that God also offers hope, that God’s ways are higher than our ways. Despair tries to take root when the path of life seems too steep or the burdens are simply too heavy. But God is only a prayer away and He will always carry our burdens.
I once wrestled over a big life decision. In that season, I tried all of the world’s wisdom for decision-making yet did not have peace. However, after I surrendered my all to God, the walls of indecision melted away.
In John 10:10, the Apostle writes: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Put contextually, Advent is God’s gift of abundant life. Often, our present reality obscures the beauty of God’s purpose. This is not new. Can you imagine the number of negative thoughts that Mary faced in her pivotal moment? Rather than listen to those thoughts, she responded: “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” The rest is eternal history.
Today, let us surrender our whole selves to the only one who can perfect us–His name is Jesus, Emmanuel (“God with us”)!
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, sidebar “Blessing” in The CEB Women’s Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2016, p. 1288.
