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Mary's Shoes
“I am the Lord’s servant.” Mary answered the angel, “May it be to me as you have said.”
– Luke 1:38
It’s easy to look at someone else’s life and find fault… until you find yourself walking in their shoes.
I remember hearing a mother of three telling a group of us that she and her husband let their kids pick the high school they wanted to attend. Since we have an “open enrollment” policy in our town, it is possible for siblings to go to different schools. But from my perspective as a mother of young kids, I thought, and often said out loud, that there was no way I’d ever let my kids be scattered across town in different schools.
Wouldn’t you know it, several years later, I found myself transferring my son from the high school where he and his sister attended to the one across town. And, as God has a sense of humor, the tour guide for our new school was the mother I’d judged as being foolish. When she greeted me with a huge smile, we both knew who the biggest fool was.
Mary must have felt quite foolish explaining to Joseph that the child she was carrying was placed in her by the Holy Spirit. How would you have responded if you were Joseph? I might have laughed out loud then burst into tears as all my dreams went up in smoke.
But Mary had been awakened by the angel. She had heard with her own ears that God had chosen her to be the mother of the long awaited Messiah. She saw the bright light. She heard her name clearly spoken with these calming words, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).
Mary had received a blessing. Joseph’s world had been turned upside down. Mary was caught up in a beautiful mystery. Joseph could only see misery ahead. That is until an angel appeared to him in a dream and comforted his greatest fears.
The angel confirmed, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)
God used an angel as the messenger and the quietness of night to convey His message. Because of this, both Mary and Joseph became servants of the Lord and believed nothing was impossible for Him.
God still whispers messages into our souls. He still uses dreams to convey His plans. He even lets us be the fool to teach us lessons. And He’s still looking for people who will believe all things are possible with Him.
This Christmas, step into Mary’s shoes and let your heart dream bigger, let your hope soar higher, and let your faith fly where there are no boundaries. God is searching the whole earth looking for people He can use to bring about His grand plans.
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9
As God searches the earth for faithful servants, will you be found by Him?
Take a moment and ask yourself these 3 servanthood questions.
This Christmas…
Will I say to God like Mary, “I am the Lord’s servant”?
Will I serve the Lord in the small tasks as well as the gigantic ones that seem over my head?
Will I model to those around me, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”? (Joshua 24:15)
Let it be said of you, Whatever she did, all her words and deeds, she did them all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17).
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