Mary Took the Risk

Luke 1:38
And Mary said, “Behold the bondslave of the Lord.
Be it done to me according to your word.”

Be it done to me according to your word…. Have I ever said that to anyone? I’m not sure I have. I’ve said it to God a very few times, and each time it’s seemed a huge risk. I do trust Him, yet each time I’ve struggled. Do I trust Him with my reputation? Will I give Him carte blanche with the plans I’ve crafted? Mary did both. But I waver, afraid He’ll snatch my dreams and compromise my comfort. But Mary took the risk. I hesitate.

Be it done to me. According to your word. What was Mary thinking? She spoke … and handed God her future. A broken engagement? Probably. Humiliation? Shame? Almost certainly. Surely she must have hesitated before yielding. But Mary took the risk. And a child began to grow in her unmarried womb.

I – like Mary – have dreams for my future: acceptable health, a sharp mind, a thriving family, rich ministry, and my love at my side. But God may have a different future in mind. When He replaces my dreams with His, will I clench my fists to prevent their escape, or dare I say with Mary, “Be it done to me, according to your word”?

Jesus dared. He spoke … and handed God His future. Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done. (Luke 22:42) His time on earth began with His mother’s yielding and ended with His own. Their words almost echo each other: Be it done to me according to your word … Not my will, but Thine be done. Jesus dared to hand God His future; He trusted His Father’s will – all the way to, and through, the cross.

We too, if we are to thrive, must echo Mary and Jesus. They learned what we must learn: to hand God our future, to trust that His plans, whatever their appearance, bring us a good which our plans could never produce.

Mary said yes. Jesus said yes. Lord, gift us this Christmas with hearts that say yes to you. Be it done to us according to your word … Not our will, but Thine be done.

Where is it difficult for you to say to God, “Thy will be done”?
What do you fear will happen if you yield that difficult area to Him?
Would you be willing this Christmas to gift God by asking Him to teach you to trust His will?

Mary Took the Risk
© Lynne Fox, 2014
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