God’s new way home starts with 2 ordinary women to set up an extraordinary plan
Luke 1:39-45
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 favoured, 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!”
“We have chosen you to carry our flag.”; “We have chosen you to sing the solo.”; “We have chosen you to lead the team.”; “We have chosen you to demonstrate how things should be done.”; “We have chosen you to speak to the entire assembly about the new plan.”
Who is the person that gets chosen for these special tasks? When I look, it is usually clear that they are either stronger, faster, smarter, more attractive or more talented than I am.
To be fair though, this is how the world teaches us to do things, so when I find myself having to choose someone to join me on a team I also look at those who are the most impressive.
So what would we do if we had to choose 2 people who would be responsible for the safe delivery of the most important message that the world has ever received? Would it not be someone exceptional, with outstanding abilities and unlimited resources? You would think so.
In the passage above it is describing a time in history when God is about to reveal his plan to fulfil his promises made in the Old Testament – a new way to bring his people home. We are learning about who he chose to reveal his special plan.
We read here about two mothers-to-be, one carries God’s messenger, and the other carries the saviour himself in her womb. They have the responsibility to carry out the first part of God’s important plan. The most amazing thing is that they are not what we would think of as impressive. They are not royalty, not wealthy, not famous, not physically superior, or well educated.
Elizabeth was old and way past child-bearing age. Mary was a young Jewish peasant girl living in a backwater province in an unimportant part of the Roman Empire. Both had experienced shame – Elizabeth for being barren and Mary for being unwed and pregnant. They were not women their communities would have admired.
Yet, God looks past what seems ordinary and exalts the lowly. He is not hindered by age, sex or status when he chooses you for a task. With God ordinary becomes extraordinary. Mary and Elizabeth believed and were faithful despite the hardships they faced. This passage gives a glimpse of the blessing and joy they felt to be part of the fulfilment of God’s promise of a saviour to bring us home to Him.
Head: Do you compare yourself to others and feel inadequate or inferior? Mary and Elizabeth would have felt the same way. Do you know that if you also believe it means God has chosen you?
Heart: How do you feel knowing God has chosen you?
Hands: God has chosen you to live an extraordinarily ordinary life, what can you do today to express your belief and your joy about God’s choice?
Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for making a plan so that we can find our way home to you through our saviour Jesus. You used two ordinary woman for the extraordinary task of executing your plan. Please help us have the faith to trust you and follow you as they did. In Jesus name, Amen
A song to listen to: No Other Name Hayley Alexander
For these holidays, we are revisiting our Grow Dailys from the beginning of Luke.
