Something about Mary

I never really thought of what it was like for Mary to go through Jesus' birth, but after singing "Be Born in Me" by Francesca Battistelli (https://youtu.be/QsXOP7aQeqQ ) I couldn't stop thinking about why God chose a girl like Mary to carry such a significant person who would come to die for our sins.

Before we get into this hers a little bit of the backstory.....

Before The angel Gabriel was sent to tell Mary the news, she was on the path to marry Joseph. Now this sounds pretty normal this day and age but back then in Jewish culture, a girl would be considered a woman when she could conceive a child, usually around age 13 or 14. At this point she could be promised to a man and engaged for a year before marrying. Not only this to be married around the age of what like 15 or 14, but to be pregnant was insane. Gabriel came to Mary and told her to not be afraid for God had favor upon her. He also after proceeded to inform her that she would conceive and give birth to a baby boy who was to be named Jesus. She was confused how this would come to be since she was a virgin and Gabriel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her. Despite this very heavy responsibility she was given, she responded with this...

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her. - Luke1:38

I mean if any normal person was to be told that they were to have a child who would be the son of God, they would be like What?? and super confused etc., but Mary was also normal, she was nothing special on the outside, she was young, poor and a female which was seen as under valued back then and definitely not seen to be given major tasks by God the most High. But despite the social norms of this world, God chose Mary for one of the most important acts of obedience he has ever required of anyone. So after my solo I wondered why God would pick such a normal person like Mary to birth baby Jesus and then I remembered who God is. I remembered that he can use incredibly ordinary people with willing hearts to do his will. To do something significant for God in this generation you do not need any great ability, you just need availability.

The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." - Luke 1:28

Not only was Mary given this very important and significant task by God but she also was favored from God. Who would have thought some girl back in those days who was young, poor and a female which was all seen as unfavorable qualities would be favored by God? But God had favor on Mary. Favor may look good, but it came with much pain for Mary. After she was told she would have baby Jesus, she would have had to tell her soon to be husband that she was to have a baby before they were married and not only that but tell her family and community. She could have been stoned to death, disowned from her family, ostracized by her society but the angel Gabriel said to her not to be afraid for God had favor on her. She didn't have to be scared because God had his favor on her and would protect her and shield her through this time of pain and so forth. If we look back at Mary's actions she didn't react to be given favor by God as others would have. This is because she was clothed in humility and meekness. She glorified God and was a humble servant for him through her life- altering situation. See the thing is favor is for service not for status. When God puts favor on our life it is to serve to a lost and broken world not so we can own status. Although we can see that favor from God is good, we must understand that favor comes with a price tag, it could mean losing favor of man and immense sacrifice.

When I look back of the events of Jesus I don't just see some girl who birthed baby Jesus, but a woman after God's own heart. I hope we can all learn from this example of Mary's great humility, meekness and willingness to obey and serve God with no hesitation, so that we can take it upon our own lives to strive for these characteristics of someone who would take such immense sacrifice and pain to honor, glorify and serve God. I hope we can also learn from this that God has a purpose and plan for you when you trust him. If you want to be used to do something significant for God you just need to be available and willing, you don't need great abilities. Now I'm not saying your going to wake up and be pregnant with a baby miraculously like Mary but God will use you in an incredible way for his will if you are just willing and let him. Let God use you today.