Based on a message by Ps Sharon Kelly on May 13, 2018
Blog by Sandy Hopkins
Have you ever thought about Mary’s life – what an unexpected turn the course of her life took! A young women – a virgin, chosen to carry the Savior of the World. Let’s read the story…
Luke 1:26-31, 34 NIV
“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.
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?””
I’m confident she wasn’t expecting that to happen! Life has a way of throwing curve balls at us – just when we think we know how things are going to turn out, something unexpected can blindside us. Is it possible for us to see God in those curve balls? Mary did. Here’s her response…
Luke 1:38 NIV
““I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.”
If you read on from verse 46 – 56 Mary even goes on to sing a song rejoicing and glorifying God for the great things He has done for her.
We are all messengers of the Good News – The Gospel. When we choose to see God in our curve balls do you think we might be living epistles – continuing on the Book of Acts to this generation?
When Mary’s curve ball came she didn’t begin to stress or panic. Notice she hurried to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth…
Luke 1:39-42 NIV
“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!”
Who you go to when a curve ball hits your life matters greatly! Mary chose to talk to Elizabeth – a Godly woman who was a little further down the road than she was. Mary went to someone who understood God was doing something in her.
Take a moment to think about who you run to when something unexpected happens to you. Who do you run to? Is the person you run to going to…
A. Commiserate with you and help you start down the track of self-pity by seeing the downside of the situation…
OR
B. Will they pray for you and encourage you to see the God-possibilities in what’s happening.
Can I encourage you to always choose to see the awe and wonder in a situation! How you view things is always a choice and seeing the possibilities definitely requires retraining our thinking (aka renewing your mind).
Acts 2:43 NIV
“Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.”
Mary’s life can still teach us lessons. She is highly revered now, but would not have been in those days following the angels visit. How opinions of her have changed! Elizabeth declared her and her child blessed – what powerful words Elizabeth spoke into her life when she must have felt scared and vulnerable!!
PRAYER
Lord, I want to be all you’ve called me to be. Please help me to live my life filled with awe and wonder for what you are doing and help me to continually choose to see with the eyes of possibility – to see what you might be doing in and through my life. AMEN