Here Am I

“Here Am I”

Luke 1:26-38

Mary was a teenager when the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth.

We are told that young Mary was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph.

Joseph was a good man, and Mary had a lot to look forward to.

The future was bright.

They were making plans.

These were exciting times.

And then, out of no-where, the angel Gabriel brought news to Mary that she was going to be a pregnant, unwed teenager.

A little later, Mary will sing praises to God for this Good News; but when it was first spoken to her Mary had to see this news as something other than good: it was hard news, scary news, and news that would have been very difficult to hear.

Things had been going so well for her.

Everything was set.

How could this happen?

You don’t have to be a teenager to know the sinking feeling that comes with this kind of unwelcome news.

It might be a tough medical diagnosis, a pink slip, divorce papers, a call that a loved one has died.

And it’s in this kind of “state of fear” and “terror” that we find Mary.

She was a real-life teenager in the midst of deeply disturbing and challenging circumstances.

Gabriel said: “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’

But she was much perplexed by his words…”

It’s been suggested that Mary wasn’t the first person asked by God to bear His Son, but rather Mary was the first person to say “Yes.”

How many other people do you suppose God asked before Mary said, “Yes”?

It can be hard to say “Yes” to God, can it not?

It’s a big decision for us to stop putting ourselves first and put God first instead.

Do you think there are a lot of people who plan to say “Yes” to God someday, but just don’t seem to get around to it?

They sure are missing out.

This life is not fulfilling until we follow God.

This life is not satisfying until we follow God.

We cannot truly be happy until we say “Yes” to God’s call on our lives.

When I finally said “Yes” to God I remember saying to someone, “I didn’t realize how unhappy I had been.

I had thought I was happy, but I no idea until I made the decision to give everything to Jesus Christ.

And it is a decision.

For God never forces God’s Self on anyone.

God asked, “Mary, will you live into the life I have created you for?

Will you say, ‘Yes’?”

That moment of decision for Mary wasn’t about Mary avoiding some kind punishment.

Rather, it provided Mary with the opportunity to make a life-transforming decision.

And even though the circumstances change depending on the person, we are all asked by God to do something big—we are all given the opportunity and privilege to make life transforming decisions!

That’s how much respect God has for us.

God gives us the choice.

He comes knocking, but He never forces His way in.

But when we open the door, and invite Him in everything changes.

And we find not only a Savior but a friend Who will walk these, sometimes, lonely roads with us—never to leave us, never to forsake us.

Yes, God comes to us.

But it doesn’t always fit in with our plans or time tables.

Also, we can’t see into the future.

We haven’t experienced everything in life; we don’t have all the answers.

Thus, decisions can be very difficult.

Especially decisions that will alter everything—such as the decision to truly give our entire lives over to God; to start following Christ…

…to allow God to make a complete change in our lives.

Sometimes when we decide to follow Christ, we are taking the chance that we will lose old friends.

We are taking the chance that we will be laughed at.

We are taking the chance that our previous dreams will change, our futures will be different.

What we are doing is we are making the decision as to whether God can be trusted with our EVERYTHING.

This is the kind of decision Mary was facing.

But it is so hard to see beyond our present situations.

And Mary was being asked to take a huge step of faith.

Could God see beyond Mary’s present situation?

Could God see all the possibilities for Mary’s future?

Absolutely.

But all Mary could see was what was right in front of her.

She was unwed, poor, uneducated, seemingly unimportant, insignificant, and soon to be rejected by her family and community.

There can be no doubt; Mary didn’t face an easy “Yes.”

I can’t imagine, can you?

I remember, in college, speaking with a young lady who said, “If I were to become a Christian my Mom would kill me.”