The Peace of Mary

This post is in reference to the sermon at The Crossing Church on Sunday December 14 by Shay Roush entitled "The Surprise of Mary".

This sermon touched me in many ways, as I have never stopped to really think about the Christmas story, or the 'characters' in it. Mary is such a remarkable woman, and someone I wish I would have started studying sooner. Most notably, this passage from Luke, right after the angel Gabriel was sent to Nazareth to visit Mary and tell her that she will conceive the son of God, really shows the strength and commitment to God in Mary:

"Then Mary said, 'Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.'" Luke 1:38

Mary, although scared and uncertain how this miracle can even occur, bows before the Lord and says "here I am!" What amazing faith!

Shay noted in the sermon how Mary has PEACE about the things that God chose for her to go through. This brings up interesting points about free will, and what God "chooses" for us to go through, or what we ourselves choose to put ourselves through. Regardless of who is really the one making the decisions, a powerful scripture was presented that I feel every Christian can identify with.

"But as for me, I will look to the Lord,
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
my God will hear me.
Do not rejoyce over me, O my enemy;
when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be a light to me.
I must bear the indignation of the Lord,
because I have sinned against him,
until he takes my side and executes judgement for me.
He will bring me out to the light;
I shall see his vindication."
-Micah 7:7-9

God I know that I have sinned against you, but I also have faith that when I fall, you will be my light and help me rise! We have all fallen, and will fall again, but it is the redeeming power of the Lord that makes all of this so amazing!

My prayer for today is that I continue to look to Christ for my salvation, and know that God will be my light.

THINGS I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT: The Root/Rod of Jesse, Elizabeth - the mother of John the Baptist and her relationship with Mary

BOOKS TO READ: "The Real Mary" by Scott McKnight