Luke 1:38
I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”
When I was a child, this passage in the Christmas story was lost on me. I thought it was cool that an angel talked to Mary. I also envied the adventure of her trip to the stable and admired her resourcefulness in finding a cradle for the infant Jesus. But I never stopped to think how very scary and inconvenient becoming the earthly mother to Jesus must have been.
Mary risked it all to follow God’s will. Her fiancée may have left her and allowed her to be stoned or exiled. Once the baby was born, there must have been so much gossip and whispering. As he grew, she must have wondered when she should tell him who he was and how much he already knew. When he became an adult, she must have been terrified to lose him. And yet, she agreed. She completely submitted to God’s will. She trusted God.
God wants us to give our lives to him. He calls us to use the time he has given us here to share the love and joy that comes from a relationship with him. However, in the important moments, do we surrender to this call, or do we worry about our image?
We worry so much about what others think of us that we quietly enjoy our time with God, refusing to let others know what we are doing. We don’t want to be pushy, so we don’t talk at all. Our silence is powerful. If we shared our stories instead, others might be interested in knowing God. We don’t have to be pushy to share the word. We just have to be open, honest and inviting. Our actions speak loudly about our Lord. When others notice our strength, we can give him credit. When others notice our blessings, we can thank the Lord. When others notice our weakness, we can sho them how we call on the Lord for strength. Then they will see the power and wonder of God in our lives.
Holy Spirit,
You have called us to share God’s love with the world. However, we shy away from our call, afraid of what people will think. Help us to share your love and grace with others, so that they may come to know you. Amen
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