Today, my wife and I celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary. I am always amazed about one day in history. It was the end of August 1987. I entered the halls of Bob Jones University as a freshman. One of the classes you have to take as a freshman is called “Freshman Speech.” I took that class my first semester and began walking this sweet red-haired young lady across campus to her next class. The walks began to get longer with no seeming end or destination in sight. I would carry her books and mine. I started meeting her for meals, special programs, and writing letters. For the next four years we dated only each other. Then on one cool Thanksgiving evening in 1990, I asked this sweet young lady the big question – will you marry me? This is what amazes me! We had spent our college career getting to know each other. She knew me pretty well; however, when I asked her to marry me, she said, “Yes!” Knowing all she knew she still chose me!
To fulfill His will, God carefully chose His servant of choice. He saw Mary’s upbringing. He saw her choices in public and private. He saw her thoughts and the longings of her heart. Nothing was hidden from God and then God chose Mary! God carefully chooses His servants to accomplish His will.
God Almighty hears our words exchanged with strangers. He sees our thoughts as plainly as on a printed page. He knows you and I better than we know ourselves. It is with this knowledge God has chosen you to accomplish His will and will choose you to accomplish His will in the future. In all our imperfections, God still wants to use us!
It is vital to understand that God wants to use you in powerful ways! In Luke 1, we find out that God has chosen to use Mary in a life changing way. Consider these cultural and theological aspects of Luke 1 as we begin our study:
1. Waiting. Israel last heard about the promised Messiah some 400 years ago. During this most recent time of waiting, they find themselves under Roman occupation and deeply longing for deliverance.
2. Fulfillment. Jesus is the fulfillment of prophesy (Is. 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:2). God keeps His promises even when they seem delayed.
3. Discipleship. Mary is quietly taught in Luke 2:35 that a sword will pierce her soul. This points to the suffering of Jesus on the cross. This connects the manger to the cross and reveals that salvation will come through sorrow before glory – and redemption is for all who are waiting and watching.
Singled Out (Luke 1:28, 30, 42)
A. Favor Filled
Verse 28, “thou art highly favored.” This phrase means that she is filled with or full of grace. It is the verb form of “highly favored.”
So, when the Angel said that Mary was “highly favored” the Angel was saying that “an honor was set upon her that was peculiar just to her.” — Matthew Henry
God set her aside for this task! He chose her to be the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14!
My mother was and still is a seamstress. She worked for bridal shops for many decades. She would take apart wedding gowns, add a panel of material, and then put the gowns and all the delicate lace back together – as though it was never altered. One of my mother’s tools was an expensive pair of scissors. They were used only for sewing. They were used for something special.
God chose Mary and set her aside for something special!
B. Favor Received
In verse 30 the angel now uses the same word as in verse 28, but with a slightly different emphasis. The angel says to a very troubled Mary (vv. 29-30) “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.”
Now in verse 30, Mary receives grace (favor). Mary was filled with and was receiving much favor (grace) from God! Never forget that God’s grace is sufficient and that God gives you the grace you need when you need it.
Now remember the background issues we looked at two weeks ago: Mary is a virgin, she is betrothed, and she is now pregnant. Consider her reputation, her friends, and her future husband (Joseph)! With this background in mind, look at the end of verse 28, “The Lord is with thee.” Mary was going to be in much need of God’s grace. This is the same statement that encouraged Gideon’s faith in Judges 6:12. One can only imagine that the words from Isaiah 7:14 must have surfaced in her mind, “…Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (which means God with us).”
Are you now doubting what you once thought God called you to do? Has the calling become hard, long, and undesirable? Whether it is your reputation, your financial standing, or your appearance among men . . . God’s grace will enable you to fulfill the task He has chosen for you!
C. Favor Declared (vv. 28, 42)
“Blessed art thou among women” – same phrase declared in vv. 28, 42! Verse 28 is spoken by the angel and verse 42 is spoken by Elizabeth! When God’s grace is bestowed upon His willing children, it is evident by those around you!
Full of Faith (Luke 1:38, 45)
A. A Submissive Spirit (v. 38)
What do you do when you receive life-changing bad news that you cannot change? Do you get mad, worry, bemoan the loss for weeks or even months on end – or do you accept the difficult news (of which you can do nothing about anyway) and move on through life?
Mary has received news she cannot change but will most certainly change her life drastically! What is her response? Submission to God!
There are plenty of things in this life that are placed on our path that we cannot change but will change our lives drastically! What is your response? What will you do with such things placed on your path? Consider God’s plea for our response to His path:
1. James 4:7-8
2. James 4:10
3. Romans 12:1
4. Psalm 51:17
5. Psalm 34:18
Submit yourself to God’s will willingly! It is the position of victory and blessings!
B. A Trusting Heart (v. 45)
Mary was only able to submit to God in this difficult situation she was in because she trusted the Lord implicitly!
Mary came to Elizabeth, her cousin, in verse 36 of chapter 1. As she enters Elizabeth’s home, Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant and the baby in her womb leaps. The baby has most likely moved about before by this time; however, the word used for “leaped” in this passage is the same used for the struggling of Jacob and Esau in the womb (Gen. 25:22), and for the mountains skipping in Psalms 114:4.
After this, Elizabeth begins to speak to Mary of the Messiah in her womb! To our knowledge Elizabeth had no prior knowledge of Mary’s pregnancy. In verse 45 Elizabeth ends her greeting to Mary by saying, “Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Here are two women of great faith! Believing the unseen!
I think that almost all of us have used a GPS to navigate an unfamiliar city. You type in the address and press the start icon. As the GPS sits on or in your dashboard, you are only given the next step as you drive – and you have to continue driving to get more directions.
Mary lived this way. God did not give Mary a full map of her life to see the end from the beginning (very much like us today!). God simply gave Mary His word and step-by-step, Mary trusted where God’s word was leading her.
Believing God often looks like this in our lives. When we believe God, we take the next faithful step forward, not because we can see the end, but because we trust the One giving us the directions. God chose one to do His will that believed what He said! What about you? Do you believe the Lord when:
He promises to answer prayer- Jeremiah 33:3
He promises to meet your needs- Phil. 4:19
He promises to guide your steps- Proverbs 3:5, 6
He says your role as a wife or husband or child is best for you- Eph. 5 & 6
Trust the Lord and you will live with a willing submissive heart!
C. Rejoiced in God (Luke 1:46-55)
As a result of one who was willing to trust and submit to God’s will, there was much rejoicing in God! Mary gives:
A Recognition of God (v. 46-47)
A Recognition of God’s Favor (v. 48-49)
A Recognition of God’s Person (v. 50-55)
This is important because Mary is about to face Joseph and everyone else -- pregnant (she had been with Elizabeth for three months)!
Mary did not know all the answers to this surprising visit with the angel of the Lord, but months later she left the temple knowing God keeps His word. It is important to understand that God wants to use you too! You may be in a waiting phase, or you may be in an incredible hard trial, but God desires to use you through it all. Mary responded to God’s words with submission, trust, and joy. How are you responding to God’s word?