Dare 2 Say Yes 2 God?

Dare 2 Say Yes 2 God?

We have entered the Advent season. It is time to make sure there is room in our Inn for Jesus. Join me this December to prepare our hearts and minds for Jesus. Let’s see what Mary can show us about being ready for God.

Gabriel brings Mary a promise, an order, and a prophecy:

When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you.Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son [a promise], and you will name him Jesus [an order]. He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom [a prophecy].” (Luke 1:26-33, CEB, [explanations added])

And what does Mary?

Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?”  The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. (Luke 1:34-35, CEB)

Note that the verb used here is the same than used in the creation of the world and as Moses and the apostles were prepared for their work for the Lord. The same Holy Spirit is preparing the incarnation of Jesus. The same Holy Spirit is preparing Mary to her future. The greatness of God’s salvation plan is beyond comprehension. Even just getting few glimpses of it make us reverent in awe.

Christianity is about what God has done and is doing for us and how we respond to God. God’s grace comes always first. Only then our response. That’s how it was to Mary. And that’s how it is for us, too. It’s all grace. But because of grace we can.

We are not to concentrate on our weaknesses and in-competences but on God’s power and might. We are not to look at the size of the problem but at the greatness of God. Mary believed that nothing is impossible for God.

Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. Nothing is impossible for God.”Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:36-38, CEB, emphasis added)

Mary readily surrenders to God’s will and plan for her life. Be sure to note that Mary does not surrender as a slave but as a child of God who recognizes God’s plan for her life and expresses her willingness to partner in God’s plan. God does not want slaves but willing partners.

Mary could have said “I can’t” or “I can’t bring such shame on my family”. But she didn’t. Mary did not concentrate on impossibilities but on God to whom everything is possible. God does not call the equipped. He equips the called. Because of grace we can.

Do we dare to say yes to God? Or are we going to say “Thanks, Gabriel, but no”?

 

Gracious God,
We believe, forgive our unbelief!
Burn all the roots of doubt from our hearts!
Create space for Jesus!
Fill us with your Holy Spirit.
So that we would always be ready for you.
So that we would willingly say yes
when you invite us deeper into your work.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Do you dare to say yes to God? Why/Why not?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you prepare your heart for Jesus!

Giving thanks today for
#29 God’s abilities!
#30 God’s wisdom
#31 God’s plan for each of us
#32 Mary’s example of faith and courage
#33 the fact that God calls ordinary people
#34 The empowerment of the Holy Spirit
#35 this season of preparation

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Do you want to win a copy of the Common English Bible softcover edition? Just leave a comment on any blog post this week (or any week during the blog tour). The winner will be announced again on Monday!

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Bloggers: note a prayer blog hop “Weekend Prayer Wall” at Flowing Faith every weekend!

10 thoughts on “Dare 2 Say Yes 2 God?

  1. The examples of faith and trust in God from the past are an encouraging example for us today!

    Trusting Him for His plan, Joan

  2. We should all be obedient to God’s plan for our life even when that call seems impossible! But HE makes the impossible possible…

    Debra

  3. I like the focus of your thanks list and your post. So important “to make sure there is room in our Inn for Jesus.” Thank you!

  4. Warring against dullness edited
      I am sorry this is so long, however, it is my desire to respond to God in this way — with all of my heart and life…..

    “We are in a war between dullness and astonishment. The most critical issue facing Christians is not abortion, pornography, the disintegration of the family, moral absolutes, MTV, drugs, racism, sexuality or school prayer. The critical issue today is dullness. We have lost our astonishment and our love. The Good news is no longer good news, it is okay news. Christianity is no longer life changing, it is life enhancing. Jesus doesn’t change people into wild-eyed radicals, who deeply care about the sufferings of others anymore, He changes them into ‘nice people’ who only make a noise if their ‘rights’ are being challenged.

    If Christianity is simply about being nice, I’m not interested. What happened to radical Christianity that turned the world upside-down? What happened to the category-smashing, life-threatening, anti-institutional gospel that spread through the first century like wildfire and was considered (by those in power) dangerous? What happened to the kind of Christians whose hearts were on fire, who had no fear, who spoke the truth no matter what the consequences, who made the world uncomfortable, who were willing to follow Jesus wherever He went…and were willing to love the way He loved? What happened to the kind of Christians who were filled with passion and gratitude? Believers who every day were in more awe then the day before, of the grace of God?

    I’m ready for a Christianity that ‘ruins’ my life, that captures my heart and makes me uncomfortable. I want to be filled with an astonishment that is so captivating that I am considered wild and unpredictable and…well…dangerous. Yes, I want to be ‘dangerous’ to those who just want to be a part of a dull and boring religion. I want a faith that is considered ‘dangerous’ by our predicable and monotonous culture.’

     

    ‘If Christians honestly accepted inconvenience and sacrifice as a way of life…as well as living out the New Commandment of loving God and others as ourselves – people would be seeking us out in droves, as people did Christ. Yet, we seem to have fulfilled the scripture, “the love of many will grow cold”…as we seem to live our lives politically, socially and about in everyway as though Christ…and how He lived His life, and why He died…has nothing to do with how we live our lives today’. 

     

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