Mary Had a Choice

This time of year, many of us turn our thoughts to the birth of Christ.  Most of us know He was born to the virgin, Mary.  A lot probably even know all of the details surrounding His conception and birth.  But did you know Mary had a choice?  I hadn't really thought about it, but it was the topic of the sermon at church yesterday.  It really resonated with me as something to ponder, and I want to share my thoughts with you.

In Luke 1:34, Mary says to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”  In verse 38 she is found say, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word."  That's where she chooses.  She questioned-as any of us likely would-how this plan could possibly come to pass, since in the physical world in which we live it would be impossible.  Once she hears what God's plan is, she fully submits to Him.  

In the sermon yesterday, John 2:5 came up as well.  Mary had some advice that all of us should heed.  She and Jesus are at a wedding feast in Cana.  The hosts run out of wine.  She calls to her Son and asks Him to do something.  He replies that His time has not yet come, but she says to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”  It's that simple.  Whatever Jesus says to us to do, we need to do it. 

I'll say this, many of us think simple means easy.  It doesn't.  One definition is, "readily understood or performed."  Whatever Jesus commands is readily understood and performed.  Easy means, "causing or involving little difficulty or discomfort".  If you've been a believer for any length of time, you probably already know that there are still difficulties and discomfort.  Do you think Mary experienced any difficulty or discomfort after accepting God's plan and submitting to it?  A young, unwed woman, pregnant?  Do you think her family and neighbors believed her when she told them how she had conceived?  Probably not.  She faced plenty of trials after choosing God's plan, and we should expect no less.