Mary’s Response to God’s Call

God gave Mary one of the greatest assignments He has ever given to anyone. Mary’s response to God’s call serves as a role model for how we should handle God’s assignments in our own lives. The purpose for our assignment may be for His glory or it may be for our own character development. Whatever the reason, when God calls us, we need to know how to willingly accept with a servant’s heart, even when the assignment is difficult and challenging.

My new job

To give a little back story on why I am writing this blog post — I was on my way to a new job, and I was quite nervous… nervous about meeting new people, getting adjusted to an unfamiliar environment, and being the “new kid.” I had all these fearful thoughts going around in my head.

For several months prior to this, I had been praying and asking God to send me the job that He wanted me to have. Out of the blue and straight from the Lord above, I received a call from an independent pharmacy owner. He said he needed a pharmacist to do some relief work now and then. Prayers are powerful, people! I had not applied for a job at this pharmacy, because I did not know they were hiring. I had no idea how the owner had even gotten my name and phone number. The hours and location were perfect for me and my family, so I told him “yes” right away.

I knew it was an answer to prayer. Some may say it was just a coincidence. However, I have lived long enough to know there are no coincidences in this life. When you are a follower of Jesus Christ, your faith grows as your relationship with Him grows. The Bible says that if we ask believing we shall receive. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 NIV

Mary’s Response to God

So I was driving along, listening to my Bible app reading through the book of Luke. The story about the angel Gabriel’s visit with Mary was playing. Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she would be with child and would give birth to the “Son of God.” Mary accepted what the angel said without hesitation. She knew right away that it was something God had chosen her to do, and she trusted Him without question. Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to accept whatever He wants. May everything you have said come true.” Luke 1:38 NLT

WOW! What a response!

Mary had just been told that the Son of God would form and grow inside her belly even though she had never been with a man. This message catapulted her into motherhood, and she responded to this news with such grace and humility.

I thought it was quite fitting that I was hearing this story at this particular time. In the midst of my nervousness, God was showing me how Mary responded to her new “assignment” from Him. If anyone had reason to be nervous, it was Mary, but she wasn’t. She had faith that if God wanted her to do this, then He would lead her and make a way for her. I, on the other hand, had prayed for this job, and God had answered. Yet here I was, allowing fear to control my thoughts and feelings.

Mary faced potential persecution.

I wonder how I would go about telling someone that I had been visited by an angel, and how many people would actually believe me? How must Mary have felt when she delivered the news to Joseph. Then to top it off, she had to tell the man she was about to marry that she was already pregnant! This was not the 21st century. Mary was facing a very serious situation.

Even though she was betrothed to Joseph, he could have claimed that the child was not his. She would have been accused of adultery and stoned! Even if Joseph did agree to continue with the engagement and wedding, Mary could be shunned by friends, family, and people in her community. However, we do not see any of these potentially threatening situations affecting how Mary reacted to this assignment from God.

Mary did not question God.

Mary never hesitated with what she needed to do. She is not fearful and anxious about how she would present the potentially scandalous information to Joseph. Nor does she question God about why He would choose her and put her through such a difficult situation.

She does NOT say:

• “Why me God?”
• “I’m not ready to be a mom.”
• “This is not a good time!”
• “Please pick someone else!”
• “I could be killed for this!”
• “Can’t you wait a few months until after I am married?
• “Joseph will never marry me this way!”

Can’t you just imagine us saying some of those things. I certainly can.

Mary does not question God’s decision, and she does not worry about how this will all happen. She just says, “Yes, Lord.”

Mary praised God.

The Bible says that just a few days after being visited by the angel, Mary went to see Elizabeth. Mary said to Elizabeth, “Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed.” Luke 1:46-48 NLT

Here we see again that Mary is not questioning what God has asked of her. Even though this pregnancy could affect her marriage to Joseph and her reputation for the remainder of her life, she willingly accepted it and praised God for it. She PRAISED God even though she had no idea how all of this was going to work out. What a wonderful example for us, and God doesn’t want us to miss this!

We need to praise God at all times, even when we do not know the the how’s or the why’s of our circumstances. When we love and trust God, we can praise Him regardless of our situation. God is worthy and deserves our praise, even if our life is a mess. In many of the Psalms, David cries out to God in despair, but He also praises God. We can do the same! Pour your heart out to Him and give Him praise!

Mary had faith in God.

Another amazing thing I noticed in this verse is that Mary says, “generation after generation will call me blessed.” So why is that so amazing? Because it shows how great her faith and trust in God was. Mary did not doubt in her heart that everything would work out just as God had said. She did not know how her relationship with Joseph would proceed or if she would be persecuted, but she knew she would give birth to the Son of God. She spoke about it as though all of the potential obstacles had already been overcome, because in reality, they had. When God puts a plan into action, He takes care of all of the details. Mary knew this in her heart and that is how she was able to speak about the future with such certainty.

God chose Mary for a reason.

God chose Mary for a reason. He gave her this “job”, this HUGE responsibility, because she possessed qualities that God wanted the mother of Jesus to have. He also knew she would respond willingly and that she would be able to handle the task.

Being the mother of Jesus would be such an honor. However, this responsibility would also bring Mary a great deal of suffering. She would have to stand by and watch as people falsely accused Jesus of crimes he had not committed, tortured him, and then crucified her perfect baby boy, her firstborn child.

Mary had special gifts that qualified her for this special assignment, and the Bible says that God has given each of us a spiritual gift. Therefore, each one of us possess a quality, talent, or skill that can be used by God.

God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. 1 Peter 5:10 NLT

What is Our Response to God?

When God asks something of us, do we respond with willing acceptance right away? Or do we debate with God about whether it is the right thing and if we are the right choice? Do we ask God to wait a while until we can get our things in order or maybe when our life is less hectic or troubled? And when God does hand us an assignment, do we worry if it will ever be brought to fruition?

Whether you realize it or not, God still gives people special assignments and missions. We may not see an angel appear in our bedroom with a message from God, but we have the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit lives within us, and He leads us in the way we should go.

Some of you may be wondering if God has ever specifically asked you to do something. But I can assure you that He does. The same God who chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus is alive today, and He never changes.

The more time you spend with God, the more you will be able to hear his voice. I do not claim to have ever heard the audible voice of God, though I do believe some people have. However, I can say that I have heard His Holy Spirit whisper to me during my Bible study and prayer. God’s Word is alive!

We need to follow Mary’s example when God gives us a job to do. Even if you feel afraid, you need to remember that when God calls you to do something, He also equips you to do it! He’s not going to leave you hanging, without the necessary equipment to get the job done. There may be times when you think you don’t know what to do. However, if you set aside time every day to spend with God through Bible study and prayer, He will reveal Himself to you. He will answer you and lead your steps.

God Will Choose You, if You Let Him.

What if God has an assignment for us, but He knows that we will not do it without questioning Him? We could be an active participant in God’s plan, but maybe we are missing out because God knows we would not accept His assignment willingly. We need to trust God to carry us through.

I don’t want to miss out on anything God has for me. So I am going to pray that God will help me to be ready for whatever He has for me, and that He will help me respond with willing acceptance. I don’t want to go through this life just being lukewarm in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I want to be an active participant in God’s great plan.

Here I am God. Choose me!