This is a girl who understands what it means to be a servant of the Most High. She understands that as a servant she is His to do with as He pleases, and she willingly submits and obeys. She rests in His goodness, even if she can't always see it. She rests in His faithfulness as she rehearses His deeds of the past. And she trusts Him for her future and confidently puts her life in His capable hands. (Luke 1:46-55)
I am astonished by this young teenage girl's attitude. She was humble and she was surrendered. I know I've said this before, but I really don't like to be out of control of my life and my situation. My natural tendency is to fight for control, to fight to protect myself from circumstances that might cause me stress or hurt or discomfort. But here is this young girl whose plans and dreams were about to be drastically shifted. God's plan for her life included shame, hardship, pain, loneliness, criticism. And yet, in spite of that, she humbly submits to God's will for her life no matter how much it cost her personally and says, "I am your servant, may it be to me as you have said."
As we spend the next few days reflecting on and celebrating the birth of our Savior, let's also be challenged to think through what it means in our own lives to be fully surrendered to that Savior that we are celebrating. What would it look like to be able to say as Mary did, "I am your servant, may it be to me as you have said" when the news from the doctor is not good, or in a difficult marriage, or when our kids have rejected us, or _________________(you fill in the blank)?
God's plans for us are rarely easy...there is a cost to being the servant of the Most High. Like Mary we need to realize that He is the one in control and that we belong to Him to do with as He pleases...we need only submit and obey and trust Him that He is good. BUT be assured, God's plans also always come with a promise...He promises to be with us. He was with Mary in her circumstances. He will be with us in ours. Our Savior who we celebrate this season is also called Immanuel...which means God with us, and He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.
So then, wherever we find ourselves right now, let us surrender like Mary and say to our Savior and our King, "I am your servant, may it be to me as you have said," and let us rest in His goodness, even if we cannot always see it. Let us meditate on His faithfulness by rehearsing His deeds of the past, both through the pages of Scripture and also in our own lives. And let us trust Him for our futures and confidently put our lives in His capable hands!
Post a Comment