For many years now we have heard the beautiful Christmas song, “Mary, Did You Know?” It is so poignant. Mark Lowry really stirred our imagination with those lyrics. It touches our hearts with the questions it asks, and causes us to stand in amazement at the power of our God. Of course Mary had no idea what her baby would do, but she trusted the word of God spoken to her by an angel. She willingly surrendered her all.
Recently, my husband spoke about some things Mary might like to tell us. Like Mark Lowry, he used his imagination, picturing Mary, after all she experienced, giving wise counsel to us. She is unique, but all who follow Christ can learn from her experience.
As cross cultural workers, we know a lot about surrender. We’ve surrendered a normal life in our home country. We’ve surrendered time with our loved ones at home. We may have left houses and land and parents and children. And like Jesus promised in Luke 10:30, we’ve received a hundredfold now and in eternity.
But everyone of us has passed through storms of opposition from outside ourselves, and doubts that arise from our own hearts. So think about what Mary might like to say to you this Christmas.
Don’t limit God, say yes! – Are you glad you said yes? Is there more you should be saying yes to now?
There are no regrets for a life surrendered to God. – We may feel pain that we wouldn’t have otherwise, but we don’t have to live with regrets for what we’ve done with our lives.
Rethink the purpose of your life. – It may not be glamorous or famous, but it will please the One who really counts. When God calls you, everything changes.
Accept the boundaries of your role. – Mary had a role to play, yet some have tried to make her more than God intended. “Remember my words,” she might say, “the words I spoke to the angel on that day that changed my life:”
“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Stepping out of our boundaries leaves us open to attacks. Staying in our boundaries keeps us from exhausting ourselves on things that don’t matter, or exalting ourselves beyond our importance.
Extraordinary lives have many ordinary days. – Mary spent her life as a wife and mom. Surely most of her days were quite ordinary, yet she is honored as so much more than that. Perhaps you, like many ladies, have been surprised at just how many normal things we do while fulfilling our God-given calling. The ordinary is always a part of the extraordinary.
Sometimes you may feel that you are not right for the task God gave you. – Walk in faith, not feelings. Feelings will let you down, but God knows what He wants for your life.
It will cost you! You will be misunderstood, falsely accused, want to give up.
Don’t give up! – The rewards are worth the price!
Those thoughts represent my husband’s pondering. I wonder what else you think Mary might say to you, and to all of us? Remind us of some of the lessons you learned in your surrender to God. Send me your ideas and I will share them with the Peter’s Wife family.
Blessings to you, this Christmas. He came that we might have life – life that is our treasure to share with a lifeless world. Though I do not know many of you in person, I thank God for what his life is doing through your life.
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