So We Obey

Luke 1:38(NIV) —

‘'I am the Lord’s servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' Then the angel left her.’

Matthew 1:24 (NIV) —

‘When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.’

Let’s set the scene Joseph and Mary are two ordinary people, living ordinary lives, in an ordinary town. They’re engaged and about to start their very ordinary lives together. 

These ordinary lives are turned upside down in two separate but very similar encounters. An angel of the Lord appears to each of them and tells them what is to come. A son will be born to them, through the most miraculous circumstances. Son of God, Saviour of the world, Immanuel. 

How do you even begin to take that in? To understand what is being asked?

This news will be costly for them and their reputation. An incredible miracle explained away by a story of shame and disgrace. If they play their part, they step into likely hardship, rejection and criticism.

Both Mary and Joseph respond to the news with something so simple, so costly and yet so world changing. They say 'yes', not fully aware of the glorious, eternal repercussions of their actions, but trusting that God would use them. 

Our response to the news of Jesus should be the same. He desires our simple, sometimes costly, always world changing ‘yes!’ Obedience is the love language of God. When we surrender our own desires to follow his, we are woven into that same beautiful story that Mary and Joseph stepped into all those years ago. Our lives, too, have glorious and eternal repercussions. 

We respond to the birth of Jesus with our ‘yes’. So how can you be obedient today? How can you lay aside your own understanding and step into his wonderful plans? 

Prayer - I am the Lord's servant. I give you my simple 'yes' today, trusting that you will turn it into something far greater than I can imagine. 

Song recommendation: Mary Did You Know?