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About the Writer:
Margaret
Cook

With a tender heart, a drive for learning and a gift for sharing, Margaret brings her years of experience as a licensed professional counselor and a woman of faith to all her writings. Her insights and biblical understanding bring home principles we all can use - no matter the circumstances we are in.

 

Then Mary Said

By Margaret Cook, M.Ed., Licensed Professional Counselor, Life Coach

“Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.” New King James - Luke 1: 38

Of all the stories in the Bible when someone responds to God’s call, this one may be the most captivating. The conversation between Mary and the angel is short and sweet. I am amazed at how much is conveyed in so few words with a powerful dialogue that speaks to us for thousands of years.

God calls each of us. Thankfully it is not to the task of mother to God. What kind of response do we give to the call of God?

Mary said “yes” and the angel departed. That is exactly where I would have hoped for the angel to stay around and talk about this new commitment. Often when I say “yes,” I have a few doubts. I’ve never said “yes” to anything as dramatic as the invitation Mary accepted. Her answer sounds so trusting and confident. What faith and hope Mary shows us in her response. How could she consider responding otherwise to the greatest invitation of faith recorded in scripture? In verse 32-33, the angel describes the Son she will be given:

“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

The words of the angel that day took a place in Mary’s heart. They remained alive – possibly verbatim for her sake. The words are recorded in scripture for our sake. So we will know that God became incarnate, was born of a woman and lived among us.

This Advent God asks us to bear Christ and the invitation to have changed lives to the world. May you read the Christmas story in Luke often this season and may the Word become real to you even as it did to Mary. Let it be unto us according to God’s will that Christ will reign in our lives forever and may we serve the purposes that have no end.

Lord – be with us this season. Bring peace on earth and let your Word dwell among us as we celebrate Emmanuel. Amen.

 

Copyright © December 8, 2005 – Margaret Cook. All rights reserved.
Permission to use or duplicate this article is available by contacting the author at

 

 

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