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Desire to have a heart like Mary's

March 01, 2007|Christina Huffman

My church has been studying the book of Luke, and it has been so good. In recent months I have been deeply touched by Mary's response to God's plan for her.

Mary was a young girl who loved the Lord and was faithful to live according to the word of God. She was in the midst of planning her future as Joseph's wife, when the angel appeared to her and told her that God had chosen her to be the mother of God's son. She asked only one question. "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34) The angel explained that this child would be conceived by the Holy Spirit. To this, Mary replied,

"I am the Lord's servant, May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38)

Wow! What a statement! I'm afraid that I if I were Mary, I might have blown it. I probably would have said something like, "Say what?" Or, "OK, first of all, that's impossible. Second of all, if it were possible, nobody will believe me. Everybody will think I've sinned, and there's no way Joseph will marry me." I would have wanted to think about it for a while. But not Mary. She asked one practical little question, then said yes.

I want to be like Mary. I want to be willing to say yes to God, whatever He asks of me.

Moses was a mighty man of God, there's no denying that, but do you remember what his initial response was to God? The Lord spoke to Moses and told him that he was going to use him to free the children of Israel from slavery.

"But Moses said to God, 'Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?'" (Exodus 3:11)

God encouraged Moses, promised to be with him, and told him what to say. Moses still had a few "what if" type questions. God patiently answered these and showed Moses some signs and wonders. But Moses felt the need to give God a bit of information about himself.

"Moses said to the LORD, 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.'"

The Lord basically told Moses that it is He who will give him the power to accomplish these things.

At the end of all that, Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."

Moses did finally obey the Lord, but he had a tough time saying yes at first.

I want to be like Mary, but I am much more like Moses. I wonder how many opportunities to serve the Lord I have missed, because I was too afraid to say yes. I know that I have been guilty of arguing against God's plans for my life.

It was a few years ago that I felt God was calling me to write. My initial response was, "Who, me? What do I have to say?" It's not that I didn't want to do it. I just didn't think I could do it. Thankfully, the Lord was, and continues to be, very patient with me. Most of the time I sit down to write, with absolutely no idea what I am going to say. I spend some time worshiping, praying and reading God's word, and He gives me things to say.

Maybe there is something that the Lord is calling you to do. Maybe He is calling you to share the Gospel with your neighbor, or perhaps He is calling you to preach on a street corner. Maybe He is calling you to keep on loving and praying for your unsaved spouse or children. Maybe He is calling you to do something that seems impossible to you. Whatever it is, I pray that you would have Mary's heart and say, "Yes, Lord. I am your servant and I will obey."

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