As humans we have vision for our life. A story we want to live out, or maybe one we no longer want to live out. No matter if we like it or not it’s our story. A little torn, full of hurt, pain, but also full of hope, joy, success. Most of us are truly content with our story and where we are. It is comfortable, why change it, right?
Since it is the Christmas season, the theme at church is “More Than a Story”. The whole premise is that the story of Jesus is more than just a story we hear around Christmas time.
Today the pastor talked about Mary and Josephs part of the Christmas story in a way I have never seen it before.
Put yourself in Mary’s shoes. A teenage girl, probably dreaming of what her family will look like in the future. A teenage girl probably with a plan for how she wants her story to play out. A teenage girl visited by an angel and told that she will have the Son of God.
I can probably guarantee you that having the Son of God himself and having to raise him was not in her plans. That changes EVERYTHING that she could have planned for her own story.
Her response is what fascinates me about this whole part of the story.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. -Luke 1:38
Mary surrendered her story, her own plan for the Lord’s. She was willing to put her own self down and be obedient to whatever the Lord wanted. No matter the looks she would get, what people would think of her, she was willing to surrender it all for the Lord.
Dang.
I don’t know about for you, but that is convicting.
With that being said I want to ask the question are you willing and ready to lay down your comforts, your plans, or stories for the Lords? Are you willing to be a Mary, and respond with that kind of obedience? Will you to continue to choose your own story, or the Lord’s story for you?
