Let It Be To Me

Liberty Springs PCA, Cross Hill, SC. Let your light so shine ...

Gabriel’s words shocked Mary.

But he softened his message with affirmation, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” Not a mere period at the end of that sentence, an explanation point … the.Lord.is.with.you! You.have.found.favor.with.God. Mary, your life reflects God’s presence! God is well-pleased with you! 

I imagine Mary’s breath caught in her throat. Perhaps a tear fell from her eye. She was listening to an angel—God's personal sentinel—sharing a message from God himself.

“Mary … you will conceive … bear a son … call his name Jesus. He will be great … Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:31, 32)

Mary had questions … wouldn’t we all? Gabriel listened and responded gently. Her questions were not of the challenging sort. 

I picture Mary’s chin falling to her chest. I see her open hands spread to receive. I hear her heart in her quietly spoken words, “… let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Let it be to me. Allow this miracle to come true through me. I think I understand a bit of Mary’s response. God is doing something very special in her life. God is the initiator and Mary is actively engaging with him.

Let it be to me, a joyful submission to the will of God. I hear in Mary a willing trust of God’s purposes. I hear a responsive heart. Mary knew it was God’s work in her not her work for God. Let it be to me.

For Mary the will of God was hard, counter-cultural even. It wasn’t acceptable to be pregnant before marriage. Engaging with the plan and purposes of God is often hard. But a let it be to me response communicates, a holy desire to participate in God’s will.

I am challenged to trust and to pray …

I may not get it … but let it be to me. God I WANT to participate in your purposes.                                                                                                                                                I  I want it to be different … but let it be to me. I WANT to partner in your will. 

                                                                                                                      

“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)

Kara and Jason

Norman and Katie

I dedicate this post to my friends Kara and Katie who in the midst of their HARD are letting their lights shine. They too are saying, let it be to me. Bless you my friends.