This sermon explores trusting God's plans even when they disrupt ours, using Mary's faith-filled response to divine interruption as an example.
Good morning, beloved of God. It's always a joy to gather together as a family, united in Christ, to draw closer to our Father through His Word. We gather not because we are perfect, but because we serve a perfect God who is ever ready to mold us into His image. We are clay in the hands of the potter, continuously being shaped and reshaped by His loving hands. We gather because we yearn to understand more, to see more, to be more through His divine guidance.
Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the book of Luke, chapter 1, verses 26-38. A passage that speaks of divine interruption, doubt, and decision. A passage that shows us that God's plans, though they may disrupt our own, are always for our good and His glory. A passage that calls us to decide to believe in what God asks of us, even when it seems impossible.
Allow me to read the passage to us: "In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.' Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.' 'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.' 'I am the Lord’s servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' Then the angel left her."
When we look at the life of Mary, we see a young woman who was going about her daily life. She had plans, dreams, and expectations. She was engaged to be married to Joseph and was probably looking forward to a quiet, simple life. But then, out of nowhere, her life was interrupted. An angel appeared with a message that would change everything.
This was a complete upheaval of everything she knew. She was told she would become pregnant, not by any man, but by the Holy Spirit. She would give birth to a son, and not just any son, but the Son of God. This was a massive, life-altering interruption.
But here's the thing–what may seem like a disturbing interruption to us may actually be a divine invitation from God. God was inviting Mary into His grand plan of salvation. He was inviting her to play a crucial role in the redemption of humanity. This was not a random interruption. This was a divine invitation. Now, let's look at this from another angle.
When the angel appeared to Mary, she was troubled. She was confused and afraid. She didn't understand what was happening. She asked the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" She was doubting, questioning, trying to make sense of this divine interruption.
And here's the beautiful thing. Despite her doubts and fears, Mary chose to accept this divine invitation. She said, "I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled." She chose to trust in God's plan, even though it disrupted her own plans. She chose to believe in God's word, even though it seemed impossible.
As we continue to reflect on the narrative of Mary, we find her grappling with the angel's message ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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