Advent 20 (2012)–Beautiful Obedience; Lovely Submission

Luke 1:36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

 Obedience. 

Submission. 

If there are two words that strike fear into many women in our modern culture, these would be two. 

That is so unfortunate!  For those two words wrap up the beautiful response of faith that Mary gave. 

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.         “May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)

Maybe part of the reason we fail to see the beauty of obedience and submission is because we are in a world obeying the wrong things and we are submitting in wrong places.

Notice that Mary’s response wasn’t:

• I need to ask Mom and Dad if all of this is OK with them.
• Joseph isn’t going to like this.  I don’t know.  Let me check with him first.
• Joseph is the man and I need to submit to his will on this.

Mary knew that her obedience and submission were to God alone. 

For that reason, she gave us an example of beautiful obedience and lovely submission–an example worthy of using as a pattern for godly living…for men and women…in whatever age.

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For further meditation:

What are your initial sentiments regarding obedience?  How about submission?

How have these issues divided men and women throughout the ages?