Wow. I can't believe it's been over a year since I've written a blog post. It has definitely not been due to a lack of action in our life...in fact I would say it's the opposite. There has been a lot going on. This past year I have been pregnant, suffered some serious health issues rendering me bed ridden and have welcomed and adjusted to life with our new baby Joshua. God has given me opportunities, yet again, to fully depend on Him. He has been revealing more of who He is and challenging me to become more like Him. I hope to take the time to back track and share some of these past reflections but today I want to write what I've been reflecting on this week.
I am doing a Bible study with an awesome group of ladies from church. This week we are delving into the topic of faith and learning what the Bible tells us active faith looks like. As I was reading through today's lesson I was playing Christmas songs on YouTube. One of my favourites is Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant. The song puts a voice to how Mary was probably feeling while she was pregnant with Jesus. It struck me that she is one of many examples of what active faith in God looks like.
Looking in Luke 1 we read that when told by the angel Gabriel that she was to become pregnant Mary was troubled and asked, "How will this be since I am a virgin?" To some this may seem like a statement of unbelief but I think it shows two things. First: she is not any more holy or special than you or I. She had the same reaction most of us would. She was startled at the sight of an angel coming to speak to her. And she was trying to figure out the earthy logistics of how her being pregnant was going to happen since she was a virgin. Which leads to the second: Mary heard what God planned to do in her life and she was asking him what that would like. She didn't say, "No. Go choose someone else." She asking God to share with her what the whole situation would look like. Knowing at this point in her life there were physical impossibilities, she was asking God what was His plan to make it happen. Her reaction to His plan speaks volumes to her faith.
After hearing that the Holy Spirit was to come upon her and she will bear a child that will be the Son of God she reacts by saying, "I am the Lord's servant." Wow. This whole conversation was maybe one minute long and she has already submitted to God with these words. One act of obedience I have been called to was being baptized. It took me months to utter the words that Mary so quickly spoke. I remember walking to the front of the church, shaking and crying while asking someone to pray with me about it. I remember being scared to go in front of the whole church and placing myself in that vulnerable position. It took me days, weeks, even months to say yes to God. Mary was able to get to that position of obedience in a matter of moments. What faith!
After this initial encounter Mary went to live with her cousin Elizabeth for a few months. As she travelled there, I'm sure Mary had a million things running through her head. After that time of reflection and her conversation with Elizabeth Mary comes to some profound conclusions. There is a passage called Mary's song in verses 46-55 of Luke 1. In her song she glorifies God and counts herself blessed. She recalls all the times in history God was faithful to His people and trusts He will be faithful in her circumstance. Instead of thinking more highly of herself for being chosen for this task she takes the position of humility.
In her circumstance Mary allows herself to be transformed to become more like God. Ironically, the very child she will birth nine months down the road will show humanity exactly what humility, obedience and faithfulness looks like. She is taking on the qualities of Jesus before he is even born. The quality that stands out to me most is humility. There are so many examples of humility to be found in the story of Christmas.
We often think about the stable and manger as depictions of Jesus humble state. Having another new baby my life has reminded me again just how helpless and dependent babies are. Jesus' humble state went so beyond the physical. Yes, he depended on Mary to be fed, to be kept warm, to be kept healthy and safe when the king of the land was killing babies. But there is a desire and need to be nurtured and loved that only a baby can so innocently convey. Every now and then I think about the fact that Jesus, son of God, present at the creation of the Earth, was as vulnerable as my baby Joshua. Jesus was equal to God, living in heaven. He didn't hang on to that reality. Instead he obeyed his Father and came down to earth. He didn't come down poof, as an adult. He came as a baby, needing his Mom and Dad. Crying when he needed something. Being restricted by the function of a human body. Needing guidance and teaching from his parents. All these things give us a clear picture of what obedience out of a humble heart looks like.
I hope and pray during this Advent season God continues to show me what active faith looks like. May it inspire us to react to God the same way Mary and Jesus did by saying, "I am the Lord's servant."
