Hear Here.

So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)

In this past Sunday’s sermon Pastor Donovan shared (paraphrased here) that Mary didn’t negotiate; she wanted what God wanted.

Some may ask, “How can I know what God wants? No angel has come to me.”

Before we consider that question, let’s consider where we stand. Are we fully committed to obeying the Lord we love, with gratitude and joy? Can we, like Mary, say “I am the Lord’s servant” without adding qualifiers or conditions? Do we want what God wants?

Some of us may have to grapple with the issue of trust. Do we trust that God, who made us, is able to make His will known to us? Do we trust that He will equip us to “hear” Him, in whatever ways He deems best?

If we are not sure of what our role is in God’s program, we can at least begin with the basics of our faith. If we are blessed to have access to a Bible, then we can know what God wants by reading His word. If we are blessed with gifts of grace, wisdom, or talent, then we can use those known gifts in the service of the church and the world. There is plenty for us to do while we wait for a specific direction from God.

Mary leaves us with a wonderful example. She was not looking for a Divine encounter, but her day-to-day life earned the commendation of God... and, at the right time, she was made aware of her assignment. Perhaps we, if we live as His word calls us to live, will also experience a Divine encounter that serves to clarify our purpose and calling.

Lord God, give us grace to hear You with our ears, our eyes, our hearts, our minds… speak, Lord. We are listening.