I am the Lord’s servant‘¦May it be to me as you have said (Luke 1:38).

Mary’s response to the Angel Gabriel is acquiescence and submission.  Her apparent obedience does not amaze me as much as her actual obedience does. What I mean is this: how often have I obeyed the Lord while dragging my feet and complaining?  That is more like the Israelites in the wilderness than anyone else.  As it is said,”Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? (Hebrews 3:15-16).  Of course, that is not true obedience! Doing what you are told, unwillingly, is really rebellion.  Paul said, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world‘¦(Phil 2:14-15).  We tell our own children, “no eye-rolling!”…but haven’t I rolled my eyes when confronted with a person, project or situation that I did not want to deal with?  True obedience takes place in the heart and then deeds and words follow the heart. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).  Imagine the abundance of obedience in Mary’s heart that produced those words.  No wonder God chose her – as Lorraine Hill discussed, she was willing to set aside her hopes and dreams and her own will to respond to the call of the Lord.

It is funny how our kids pick up on the things we say.  A few years ago, I became very aware of the importance of modeling what I was teaching to my Sweet Girl and Sweet Boy and so I set out to do better.  Before this, I was like Chicken Little; when things went wrong, the whole sky seemed fall down on me, at least from my own perspective.  I knew this displayed a lack of faith.  So as I thought about what kind of message this sent to them, I began to reassure myself (aloud) during stressful times.  I would say, “Well, I guess this is just how the Lord planned our day”.  It really did make me feel better when I said it; but I never knew how many times I would have to hear those words parroted back to me as my kids try to encourage me.  It makes me chuckle a little now, because they always pick the worst (or best?) times to say that and, invariably, it just makes me want to scream!  But of course, they are right: God’s plans are better than mine.  I think God gets a little chuckle then too.  And it always reminds me that I must honor and glorify Him, who is really in charge of my life.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (2 Phil 2:5-8).

So today, let’s think of obedience to God as sowing a seed.  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary (Gal 6:7-9).  Sow the seed of obedience in your heart.  Loosen your grasp on your plans, on your hopes and dreams, and on your expectations.  Cultivate instead a readiness to respond to God’s plan for you.  Sowing obedience into your life will allow you to reap a harvest of peace and joy in due time, if you do not grow weary.

JustaGirl…just like you!