Mary Said Yes to God

I have an invitation. Will you please join me here for the next four weeks to celebrate Advent? In the midst of your crowded calendar, I want to create a quiet corner just for you, where you can meaningfully meet with God.

Imagine a fresh evergreen wreath bedecked with festive ribbons and glowing candles is sitting on a table before us. Imagine we are sipping warm wassail from red mugs, imagine a fire is roaring inside the fireplace, and imagine snow is quietly falling just beyond the window. As you and I gather around God’s Word, let us prepare our hearts to worship Him.

Mary said Yes to God.

Mary. Multiple images play out on the whiteboard of our minds at the mention of her name. But ponder this thought: before Mary heaved her very pregnant body onto the back of a donkey, before she plodded with Joseph into the hubbub of Bethlehem, before she made do with a manger for her Baby’s bed, she made a significant choice. Mary said Yes to God.

The angel Gabriel appeared with a Special Delivery Message from God, which dramatically altered the course of Mary’s life; she would never again be the same. “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you”(Luke 1:28). Gabriel goes on, in the verses following, to offer reassurance and clarity to this youthful maiden. He articulates the specifics he had been assigned to deliver. “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:30-33).

Then tucked in between verse 37 and verse 39 are the remarkable words we pause to consider. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). In paraphrase, “So be it. Thy will be done.”

Mary said Yes to God—to His will, to His plan, to His call on her life. Her destiny was contained in her response, and I am astounded each time I read it! How was this humanly possible for one so young, so innocent?

A closer look at the text sheds light on her faith-filled choice.                                                     

Mary said Yes to God because she knew the Word of God.                                                               

And                                                                                                                                                 

Because she knew the Word of God, she knew the Person of God. 

And

Because she knew the Person of God, she was prepared to say yes to the opportunity of God.

Her song (Luke 1:46-55) is saturated with Old Testament teaching where she exclaims the character of God, the faithfulness of God, the power of God, even the priorities of God. The significance of her response is steeped in the significance of Scripture. And here the connective gem emerges:

Knowing her God and knowing His Word laid the foundation for Mary to say Yes to God with pure, simple faith.

Luke 1: 46-55

And Mary said: “My soul praises the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation after generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their innermost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, [remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”

The God that Mary knew invited her into His plan, and Mary said yes. She chose to believe. (Luke 1: 45) She chose to obey.

Living with Eternal Intentionality™:

If Mary said No, how would the Story have been different?

Does her knowledge of Scripture motivate you to saturate yourself in the Word of God? What step will you take today to embark on this adventure?

Which aspect of God’s character in Luke 1:46-55 particularly encourages you this season of Advent?

Mary’s model of saying Yes to God sets an example for you and me. Where is God asking you to say Yes?

A Vision Defying Current Events

Spellbound. My husband Larry and I sat next to each other hardly able to breathe. This choral production on stage reached back across the decades of our lives. With tears streaming down our cheeks, we solemnly acknowledged that the choir’s singing was not a random performance. We felt as though we were standing on holy ground.

On a blistering hot, sweltering, humid day in the Deep South, Larry moved from one day lily flower bed to another. His job assignment on the grounds crew at Mississippi State University focused on landscaping—aka pulling weeds.

As a young believer, 3 years old in The Lord, he used the mindless job to engage his thinking in Scripture meditation and prayer. And he had much to pray about! With our wedding a brief two weeks away, and the excitement escalating with the passing of each day, he certainly needed to pray.

Suddenly…without warning…

The Spirit of God invaded his thoughts and forever changed the course of his life and ours. Unannounced and unsolicited, God poured into my future husband’s mind a vision depicting the countries currently trapped behind the Iron Curtain becoming inflamed with the Gospel.

At this time in 1973, the countries of Eastern Europe (the Warsaw Pact) and the Soviet Union were gripped in the iron fist control of a totalitarian, atheistic government where missionary activity was forbidden. The law was enforced with a vengeance, and refusal to obey resulted in grave consequences.

Into this chilling political reality, God burdened Larry with a vision contrary to current events. For an entire week these thoughts dominated his mind with Technicolor vividness. His youthful faith had never experienced such a dramatic, supernatural encounter with The God of Heaven.

Particular to Larry's vision was seeing and hearing a choir in The Soviet Union singing the Hallelujah Chorus. Yet how could this ever come to pass? The mind-boggling dynamics eluded us for years.

However, this vision and its direct connection to The Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 were destined to direct our lives. Without knowing about the 1973 vision, the international leadership of our movement asked us in 1977 to go and live covertly behind The Iron Curtain. We humbly accepted this opportunity, and walked away from all that we held dear to obediently pursue God’s crystal clear call on our lives.

Only God deserves credit for the supernatural events that unfolded. Living and working among the people enslaved by Communism, seeing those people become politically free, witnessing the rapid expansion of the Gospel are gripping experiences which defy description.

After 1989 and the historic Fall of The Wall, political freedom brought opportunity as never before to reach people for Christ. Using the JESUS film, city campaigns occurred across twenty nations, and 150 million people (previously denied the opportunity) heard the glorious Gospel. One such sweeping campaign transpired in 2007 in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk with its population of 1,035,528.

The opening night of the campaign, church and government officials gathered in the monstrous cultural center for an unprecedented ceremony. In a first ever gathering of its kind, the Siberian city sat poised for the premier of the JESUS film for its population.

Introductions, ribbon cutting, speeches, gifts, and acknowledgements all filled the evening program. And then the choir stood to sing. The organist gave the introductory strains, the director raised her hands, and the eyes of each former-citizen-of-the-Soviet-Union choir member focused on her.

But for Larry and me, the eyes of our hearts could only focus on heaven. The choral selection this frigid night in Siberia was the—Hallelujah Chorus.

Spellbound, Larry and I sat next to each other hardly able to breathe. This choral production on stage reached back across the decades of our lives. With tears streaming down our cheeks, we solemnly acknowledged that the choir’s singing was not a random performance. We felt as though we were standing on holy ground.

Thank You, God, for connecting 1973 with 2007—Mississippi day lilies and Siberian singers. Thank You for pulling back the curtain to allow us to witness what prophets of old longed to see. Thank You for entrusting us with a vision and for the joy of seeing it come to pass. Thank You that Your Gospel is in fact, finally able to go to Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, to those who have never heard.

Living with Eternal Intentionality: “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NASB).

3 Red Flag Words

Sitting outdoors at the pumpkin farm, we chatted casually. The idyllic weather provided a perfect backdrop for friendly conversation. “Tell me about your upcoming travel schedule,” I said. Megan’s answer was a bewildered, transparent response of upcoming commitments which overloaded her already crowded calendar.

Well, at least…I offered.

Without even thinking, I just put it out there! Well, at least… As if on autopilot, the three-word hammer, came down.

Since that day, I have given thought to these three words that thwart—Well, at least—and the situations where they occur. I invite you to join me, and imagine yourself in one of these scenarios.

My teenage daughter just dented the rear door of our new SUV.

Well, at least she didn't total it.

I hate I had to leave early.

Well, at least you were able to come.

 My brother has cancer. 

Well, at least is not the bad kind.

My plane was 2 1/2 hours late.

Well, at least you got here.

 My husband has been laid off his job.

Well, at least he will now be able to attend your children’s sporting events.

My entire family is sick with the stomach virus.

Well, at least it is not the flu.

 My father just passed away.

Well, at least you had him for these many years.

My wallet was stolen.

Well, at least your bank can handle the confusion.

Last month, I lost my mother to Alzheimer’s.

Well, at least you are still here, and have not yet moved to your overseas assignment.

 Our washer just quit.

Well, at least you have an excuse to buy a new one.

Our baby was up all night with teething.

Well, at least you can take a nap this afternoon.

Lightning struck the tree in our backyard; it fell and it ruined the neighbor's fence.

Well, at least it didn't fall on their house.

Though each response is valid, the response is just not helpful. Three questions bear consideration:

1. What motivates us to respond Well, at least?

I believe we are uncomfortable with the raw negative reality that regularly occurs in life.

·      We feel awkward when we hear adverse information.

·      We assume the responsibility to instruct the individual in how to view their situation differently.

·      We are compelled to offer another viewpoint of their circumstances, situation, dilemma, pain, diagnosis, problem, or relationship. 

·      We don't know what else to say, and yet we feel the necessity to say something—anything. Our go-to response becomes Well, at least.

2. Are we interested in correcting or connecting?

Herein lies an opportunity for you and me to grow. We must learn to resist the compulsion to correct, and use the occasion to connect. When we allow the Holy Spirit to implement a pause, we are set free to provide the ointment of relational understanding.

3. What would be better?

Imagine the individual saying, “I don't need your commentary; I need your comfort.” Then, if we listen compassionately with the eyes of our heart, more empathetic responses emerge.

I am sorry.

I am so sorry.

Do you want to talk about it? 

Tell me more.

(Silence with a hug.)

Instead of Well, at least, picture one or more of these suggestions inserted into our previous list.

My husband has been laid off his job.

Do you want to talk about it?

Last month, I lost my mother to Alzheimer’s.

I am so sorry. (Silence with a hug.)

Our baby was up all night teething.

(Silence with a hug.)

Lightning struck the tree in our backyard; when it fell, it ruined the next-door neighbor's fence.

I am sorry; tell me more.

Going forward: Since my conversation at the pumpkin farm, I have sought to be more circumspect, more alert. On more than one occasion, an internal buzzer has gone off reminding to me step back with my words and step up with my understanding. Well, at least I am beginning to get it! 

Living With Eternal Intentionality™: What about you? When do you tend to punctuate a conversation with Well, at least…? God's Word instructs us, "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Colossians 4:6).