We read here of how Mary was called to obey God; and her response. The story of Mary’s response to God’s call to bear the Messiah beautifully illustrates what our response should be to God’s call in our lives. When we recognize that God is calling us to obey, we should:
1. Rest assured of God’s blessing - vs. 28-33
Mary’s first reaction to the words of the angel was to worry about what he wanted. But the angel told her not to fear, for God’s intent was to bless. Likewise, when we sense God’s call, we often are fearful. But let us rest assured that God’s intent is always only to bless.
Two thoughts:
A. There are blessings God wants to bring to us - v. 28
Gabriel said two things to Mary that God wants every believer to realize are also true of each of us.
1) She was highly favored - v. 28
This is also true of us as believers.
“So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.” - Ephesians 1:6 (NLT)
2) The Lord was with her - v. 28
This is also true of us as believers.
“I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age.” - Matthew 28:20 (Amplified)
The angel didn’t say if Mary obeyed God then she would be blessed. No, she was already blessed, but would learn all the more how blessed she was as she obeyed God’s call. Likewise, God doesn’t call us to obey in order to receive His blessings; but he calls us to obey in order to discover His blessings. As believers, we couldn’t be more blessed!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” - Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)
However God calls us to obey, is first for our benefit, so that we might discover through our experience the reality of God’s blessings to us.
“[And I pray] that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good [thing] that is ours in [our identification with] Christ Jesus [and unto His glory].” - Philemon 6 (Amplified)
B. There are blessings God wants to bring through us - vs. 31-33
The entire world would be blessed through the child that Mary would give birth to. Her child would be great in the sight of God, and called the “son of the Most High” (v. 32). He would reign forever on the throne of his father David (vs. 32-33). The angel told Mary that the son she would bear would bless the world because:
1) His life would bring the world inspiration;
2) His death would bring the world salvation;
3) His reign would bring the world transformation.
Mary’s obedience would enable people to receive inspiration, salvation and transformation; and God wants to work through us to bless others with inspiration, salvation and transformation as our obedience points them to Christ. Just like God used Mary as a channel through which His blessings might come into the world, He wants to use us. May our prayer reflect the words of the hymn: Make me a channel of blessing today, Make me a channel of blessing, I pray; My life possessing, my service blessing, Make me a channel of blessing today.
When God calls you to obey, rest assured that He wants to lead you to discover how you are blessed and how He can use you to bless others.
2. Rely completely on God’s power - vs. 34-37
Mary asks a question of the angel, for the purpose of clarification, not confirmation. She is committed to cooperating with the Lord in doing his will. Gabriel explained that she would not need to do anything, that the conception in her womb would be the result of God’s miraculous intervention. It was to be a miraculous virgin conception. Therefore, the child will be called the “Son of God” (v. 35).
In his commentary, David Guzik points out: “Gabriel answered that the power of the Highest, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, would overshadow Mary. The word overshadow means ‘to cover with a cloud,’ like the cloud of Shekinah glory (Exodus 16:10, 19:9, 24:16, 34:5, 40:34) or the cloud of transfiguration (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34). This cloud is a visible manifestation of the glory and presence of God; this means that the same power of God that was with Moses and others in the Old Testament is now going to do a unique work in the life of Mary.”
As a further encouragement, Gabriel told Mary that her elderly relative, Elizabeth, was in her sixth month of pregnancy (vs. 36-37). So, in response to Mary’s question of “how,” the angel told her about how the power of God that would enable her this thing to come to pass. He reminded her that “nothing is impossible with God.”
The same is true for us. Whenever we sense God’s call, we need to remind ourselves that we can rely on God’s power. God will never call us to do what he will not enable us to perform. If we are willing to be used, God’s ability will always enable us to do the task.
In his book, Real Evangelism, Bailey Smith tells of a friend of his who was newly called to preach. One of his first sermons was from John chapter three about a fellow named Nicodemus, but he pronounced it “Nigh-cod-a-mus.” He mispronounced it all the way through the sermon, extended the invitation, and 21 people gave their lives to Jesus that night!
3. Resolve to submit to God’s will - v. 38
Mary is said to be betrothed to Joseph. There were three stages to a Jewish wedding in that day:
A. Engagement (a formal agreement made by the fathers);
B. Betrothal (the ceremony where mutual promises are made); &
C. Marriage (approximately one year later when the bridegroom comes at an unexpected time for his bride).
When a couple was betrothed, they were under the obligations of faithfulness, and a divorce was required to break the betrothal. This was not a casual promise. The only possible exception to a divorce was if it were discovered that one of the parties had been unfaithful (Matthew 1:18-19).
Mary had no way of knowing if Joseph would understand or accept what had happened. If not, then he could have her stoned or put her away without a bill of divorcement, branding her as a “scarlet woman.”
But even if he accepted things, their community would no doubt brand her son as illegitimate. But Mary resolved to submit to God’s will, even though it would mean ridicule. Mary believed submitting to God’s will was worth any price one might have to pay, because it is only as we obey God’s will that our lives take on eternal significance.
In the same way, when God calls on us, we must resolve to submit to His will whatever the cost, with our eyes on eternity, knowing that it is only as we obey God that our lives take on eternal significance.
If God were to write a want ad, perhaps it might read as follows: “Kingdome workers needed immediately. Urgency of task and shortage of workers makes it mandatory that we expand our labor pool immediately. Recent resignations have left many openings.
Frequent absenteeism will force us to make unwanted cutbacks in services unless we expand work force immediately. Ability not as essential as availability, plus an excellent training manual is available. Training manual has been tried and proven for over the past two thousand years.
We hire regardless of gender, race or age. Diverse backgrounds welcome and even helpful. In the past, we have used peasants and poets, kings and fig pickers, fishermen and doctors, harlots and queens, young boys and wise old men. Main qualifications: Firm faith in Christ, a soft heart, and a thick skin.
Note: Work not suitable for everyone. Must be able to withstand criticism of fellow workers and shirkers, who often insist on their rights while ignoring their responsibilities.
“The three greatest needs of every Christian is to be dead to self; dead to sin; and dead to what other people think.” - Anonymous
There’s a lot of truth to that statement. If we are going to respond as we should to the call of God, we must resolve to submit to whatever saying “yes” to God might require of us.
Conclusion: What do you do when God calls on you? Even though responding to God’s call may be scary—rest assured of God’s blessing. Even though responding to God’s call may be difficult—rely on God’s power. And even though responding to God’s call may mean ridicule, resolve to submit to God’s will.
“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships were built for.” - Anonymous
Even so, if we are going to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, we must be willing to say, “I am the Lord’s servant.”
