A World-Changing Yes
There is power in the word of our testimony. The story of a believer carries with it a true heaviness. And not because we are anything special. The weight comes from God’s saving grace. As we hold on to his grace, our stories become a testimony of how God, Himself, has worked in our lives. In each and every one of those stories – there’s reason to rejoice.
I was reading through the beginning of Luke’s Gospel this morning. It was Mary’s story that stood out. This is a young girl, likely between ages 15 and 17, who gets a visit from an angel. This angel tells her some spectacular things are about to happen. She’s going to remain a virgin yet become pregnant. And the baby she is to carry is none other than the Son of God.
Here's the crazy part – she believed it. She didn’t ask for the mechanics or the chain of events. The angel simply tells her “The Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most High will overshadow her” … (Luke 1:35). This is her response, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
Sitting out back this morning it occurred to me, there is nothing different between Mary and any of us. We are the same in that we both believe and have put our faith in God. The Great Storyteller stepped into Mary’s reality and asked her to participate. And she said yes.
Yes, her role was a pretty important one – to say the least. But no play is complete without all the actors, the supporting cast, the light crew, the prop designers, etc. Are there some characters that get more stage time than others? Of course, but the story needs everyone to participate.
Biblically, we see this laid out for us in the description of the Body of Christ. “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body each one of them, as He chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body” (1 Corinthians 12:18-20).
No part of me is trying to diminish Mary’s role that God asked her to play. What I am endeavoring towards is to charge you, friend, to elevate the weight in which you see your role that God has asked you to play – however large or small you may see it. If the light crew walks off during the play, the play is ruined. If our knees decide to turn off, the body can’t walk. We all have an equally crucial role to play.
What’s the takeaway from Mary’s testimony? She was a 15-year-old girl who said yes. And the world will never be the same because of it. Friend, if you have put your faith and trust in Jesus, God is assigning a role for you to play. Let’s together follow Mary’s example, in whatever role God has for you, and simply say yes – God just might use you to change the world too.
