Graduate 99: Advent, Day 22
Mary
Luke 1:26-56
What is the mark of the man or woman whom God is able to use and work alongside in his unfolding cosmic plan? Is it education? Social status? Family history? Material resources? Talent? Experience? Vast stores of wisdom and knowledge? Over and over we have seen how God works through the unskilled, those who are not well-attached, those without status or wealth or special gifting or experience. What does it take to become involved in God’s plan and purpose? Mary shows us; when she learns what God desires of her, in response, she says, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” (1:38)
Does this mean that God cannot or does not use our talents, abilities, resources, giftings, and position? Certainly not, but what we must remember is that it is not because of those things that God uses us. He uses us when and because we are willing to be used by Him. Talented and gifted people—He can use if they are willing. Untalented and ungifted people—He can use them also and, sometimes, they are more willing to be used than those who are “talented” and “gifted”. There is nothing to indicate that Mary was a woman of any note or significance. Yes, when the angel greets her, he says, “Hail, favored one.” That she was favored was no credit to her but to God’s sovereign choice and decree.
That’s another important thing to remember about God’s work in the world. Since He does not choose us because of our abilities, nothing critical hangs on our abilities. As long as we are faithful and submit and obey and follow God’s leading, He who began the work will carry it to completion. We don’t have to worry about managing and bringing about results; that is another pattern that we’ve seen throughout the Old Testament. It is only with God that “nothing will be impossible.”
Mary’s song (the Magnificat) is one long series of praises to God for his care and provision. By no means does any of this imply that the road before Mary would be easy. (Imagine trying to convince people that you were pregnant by the Holy Spirit.) But her singular focus and her willingness to be used by God cause her to stand out as one of the most significant figures in the history of the world.
How will we respond to God’s call.
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
Luke 1:26-56
What is the mark of the man or woman whom God is able to use and work alongside in his unfolding cosmic plan? Is it education? Social status? Family history? Material resources? Talent? Experience? Vast stores of wisdom and knowledge? Over and over we have seen how God works through the unskilled, those who are not well-attached, those without status or wealth or special gifting or experience. What does it take to become involved in God’s plan and purpose? Mary shows us; when she learns what God desires of her, in response, she says, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” (1:38)
Does this mean that God cannot or does not use our talents, abilities, resources, giftings, and position? Certainly not, but what we must remember is that it is not because of those things that God uses us. He uses us when and because we are willing to be used by Him. Talented and gifted people—He can use if they are willing. Untalented and ungifted people—He can use them also and, sometimes, they are more willing to be used than those who are “talented” and “gifted”. There is nothing to indicate that Mary was a woman of any note or significance. Yes, when the angel greets her, he says, “Hail, favored one.” That she was favored was no credit to her but to God’s sovereign choice and decree.
That’s another important thing to remember about God’s work in the world. Since He does not choose us because of our abilities, nothing critical hangs on our abilities. As long as we are faithful and submit and obey and follow God’s leading, He who began the work will carry it to completion. We don’t have to worry about managing and bringing about results; that is another pattern that we’ve seen throughout the Old Testament. It is only with God that “nothing will be impossible.”
Mary’s song (the Magnificat) is one long series of praises to God for his care and provision. By no means does any of this imply that the road before Mary would be easy. (Imagine trying to convince people that you were pregnant by the Holy Spirit.) But her singular focus and her willingness to be used by God cause her to stand out as one of the most significant figures in the history of the world.
How will we respond to God’s call.
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
posted by Metaphysician_delta | 2:00 AM
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