The chief of police for the City of Bonner Springs is planning to retire in April and I think I’ll apply. I’m pretty sure that my charming personality and quick wit will go a long way. I can wow them with my degree in Philosophy-Theology. I sing and play guitar, too. I’m a very impressive person, for sure. Leadership experience? Yes, I lead a band. Public speaking? Intermediate. Expert. Firearms experience? That’s what Adam is for, duh. Thankfully for the safety of the citizens of Bonner Springs, the city manager will likely hire someone with actual qualifications for the job.
When we read through scripture there are some pretty fantastic stories of people doing amazing things. Like our reading today. Go Mary! Mother of our Lord. You would think that God carefully vets resumes and checksreferences before he decides to call people to world-changing service. But the opposite is actually true. The Bible reads like a who’s who of ordinary and barely average. I used to say that the only qualification needed was obedience, but I’m not even sure that’s true. I was thinking of Jonah, how God called him to Nineveh and he started travelling in the opposite direction. Once he finally got to his God-intended destination, with the help of a near-death experience, the people responded and he got so mad he went out to the desert, sat down and said go ahead and kill me now, God. Nice pick, Almighty. Why does God call the unqualified? First of all, the point of this story isn’t how Mary made for a great mother. It’s about the Savior of the World being born. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” Mary was great because God chose her. God chose her not because she was super-qualified, but because God is GREAT. Power and prestige corrupts human beings pretty quickly. But when God receives the glory we are able to recognize both God’s greatness and also our own true value. It’s always about God. And as for Mary, I think she gave the best response to God’s call I’ve ever heard: “May your word to me be fulfilled.” “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. God is at work in you, calling you to a purpose. I encourage you to practice this phrase, “YES LORD.” Maybe say it a few times in front of the mirror. When we respond to God’s direction it’s the best thing ever. So listen and be ready. Luke 1.26-55 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Mary’s Song 46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
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AuthorThe Pastors of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church Archives
July 2017
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