Oh, God, in my life I have come to realize that there is always more than one way to look at a matter, any matter. I think my friends here realize that, too. The longer You let us live, the more we should see it.
In Your divine wisdom You made us all different. We're like snowflakes – no two of us being completely alike. You've given us different looks, different abilities, different talents, different ways of thinking. You made us the way You knew was best for us and the way that You could use us to Your glory and our good. Then You blessed as each in our own ways and You said, “Use whatever gift you have received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms” (1Pt.4:10). “Thou art the Potter; we are the clay” (Is.64:8). As a result we so often look at things differently. And that's okay. In fact it is a great blessing for Your Kingdom and our lives. What rich diversity You have given!
But getting back to this difference in thinking among us – we have different approaches to matters. For example we may think within the congregation: “Should we adopt this proposal or that one?” And we can have a difference of opinion. That's alright. Should we vote for this candidate or that one? Should we get this gift for the person who is close to us, or that one? Everyone's got their own opinion on matters. Who's to say what is right and what is wrong on the matters that You have left up to us? On so many things we have different ways of looking at it. Nothing wrong with that. Indeed, it can be most beneficial. And we pray that good reason and wisdom would always guide us in what we choose to do
But, when it comes to Your Word, there we are dealing with something else. Then we are dealing with Your things, not ours. Only You can claim divine authority in all matters. Only You can wield almighty power in all things. Only You can speak and affect our lives for all eternity. Whatever You say about Yourself, Your Word, or us and our lives is true. “Thy Word is truth” (Jn.17:17). There is no room for personal opinion here. Only Your holy one is right. So, when it comes to what You have told us, there is either a correct or an incorrect way of looking at it.
In this I suppose you could say we have choices. The first is whether to believe it when You speak or not. The second is how we are going to interpret what You have told us. The third might be how we are going to respond to it. But there is a problem with us in all of these choices, for without Your Spirit's sanctified guidance into divine and holy things, which Paul and Jesus Himself call “mysteries” to our human way of thinking (Mt.13:11; Ep.3:3), we can only wrestle with our sinful reason – and that will always be wrong. Sin cannot pick that which is right. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” for it is apart from You. (Pr.14:12). How are we going to escape such a plight?
I know that it is going to be all up to You. From first to last You are going to have to do it. You are going to have to reveal it to us. You are going to have to bring it about on Your own. It's going to be All A Matter of Grace , as they say, a matter of Your undeserved love towards us. And what more astounding way to see that in action than when You sent us the Savior.
I. Considering that in these days before the celebration of Christmas, I can't help but ask some questions. I think Mary may have had similar ones going through her mind, too. The first is this: I. Why would You do this for us? Oh, God, why would You do this for me?
I am nothing but a sinful man before you. All too often the good that I would do, I do not do. And the evil that I do not want to do, that's what I do. My sinful thoughts so often seize the moment that is before me and deceive me so that I actually do what I abhor doing for I know that it is against Your will. But I still do it, showing that sin is living in me. It's like a pattern at work in my members, waging war for the control of my mind and making me its prisoner, a prisoner to sin (Ro.7:7ff). Oh, God be merciful to me!
I know that Mary felt this way, too, for when You sent Your holy angel to her, she was greatly troubled and afraid. Why? She knew all too well that her life was not trouble-free. She was a sinner living in a fallen world – tempted, harassed by Satan and her own flesh, giving into them and sinning. Then all of a sudden she stood in the presence of a messenger who serves You night and day before Your heavenly throne, one who always looks upon Your divine face. Imperfection verses perfection; incomplete love facing complete love; sin confronted with sinless-ness. How else could she feel but troubled in her soul: “ Why would God do this - send such a one to me? What have I done? Where is this headed? Ah, but her fear did not last long as the angel spoke, “The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.”
“Favor with God.” Literally, “You have found grace in the presence of God.”
Grace, dear friends, is not something that Mary deserved; it's not something that I deserve, nor do you. Grace is God's love and blessing freely coming down upon the sinner as a gift. It's an act of mercy. What we cannot buy, earn, or obtain on our own, God gives, namely, forgiveness for the sake of His Son. Think of it this way.
Suppose someone broke into your house, stole all your possessions and destroyed everything else. The robber was caught and brought before the court. You came to the trial, accused him, but then refused to press charges. Instead, you forgave him. Not only that, you paid all His fines, took him home with you, fed him, clothed him, and then gave him everything you had for his use. That's grace - what God did for Mary and does for us.
Why? Why did He do this for her? Why would He do this for me, for you? Because we need it, and His love for the undeserving prompts it. It's All a Matter of Grace.
As a result His messengers encourage, “Fear not. Don't be afraid. It's taken care of.”
When such forgiveness and blessing is given at the hand of the God who loves, fear subsides. Why? Because He says in His Word, “Perfect love drives out fear. Fear has to do with punishment. But God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love…that He sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sin” (1Jn.4:18).
A sacrifice takes the place of someone else. An atoning sacrifice cleanses and releases the guilty one from sin's bondage. Such a sacrifice is complete, done, finished, nothing more to be added. That's God's Word on it. And His Word is true.
The great trouble of sin would be resolved in the birth and life of the Lord Jesus. And Mary would get to be His mother. What a gift; what a privilege! Why did God do this for her? She could not comprehend it, except to say It Was All A Matter of Grace.
II. How can I believe the incomprehensible?
Astounding, dear friends, simply astounding what God does! But there's more. When Mary was told that she would give birth to her Savior, it was also made clear that this would happen while she was a virgin. The boy would not be conceived of man, but by the power of God as the Spirit came over her. Try to absorb that.
First, a child without human relations; secondly, a child by God, oh, not in the way of the Greek gods who were said to have consorted among women with their lustful desires. This would be a child conceived as the Holy Spirit came upon her. How was one to understand this? Humanly speaking it was beyond comprehension, beyond possibility. In it Mary had to wrestle with her sinful reason.
But this was the Word of God. And when God speaks we are dealing with a different thing. His words never return to Him broken, unfulfilled, or empty, but they always accomplish the purposes for which He gives them.
In Mary's case, as in our own, God's Word overcame whatever human struggles she had with it. In his closing words the angel Gabriel made a great point for us to consider whenever we struggle with the meaning of His words. The angel simply said, “For nothing is impossible with God.”
If God can do anything, even the impossible, I can trust Him though it seems so incomprehensible to my reason. I don't know how He will do it, yet, I can believe the incomprehensible since He said so. If nothing is impossible for Him, I don't have to worry about the rest. I will just act on His Word.
Think of it this way. Do you know how computers work? I don't have the foggiest idea; they're beyond my comprehension. I can't even begin to imagine how one gets millions upon millions of bits of information into those microscopic chips. I don't understand it. But that doesn't stop me from using one. And it really isn't necessary to understand it. All I need to know is what key to press.
You know, dear friends, in a similar way it isn't necessary to answer all the “how” questions when it comes to understanding and accepting God's Word. We merely need to hear what God says, know that nothing is impossible with Him, and trust that He is telling the truth. He's God; God cannot lie (Titus1:2). He is faithful. If you don't trust that He is telling the truth, why are you even here?
Mary didn't understand how it would work; I don't understand how everything will work in my life, nor do you. But God says He will do what is needed; He can do it, for nothing is impossible with Him; and He will do it for our good. It's a Matter of Grace .
Oh, God, so often we wish you would explain what's happening to us in every detail. But You don't, and we can't see it. But then, that's faith. Help us to be like Mary, who believed the incomprehensible , knowing that with You nothing is impossible. It shall be done as You say, and we can believe as You speak, because the Words, the power, the ability, all are Yours – even my faith in it. It's All a Matter of Grace. So then what shall I do about it?
III. When all was said and done, Mary said, “I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said.”
Do you like that word “servant.” It sometimes carries a bad connotation. It denotes a person who does lowly, menial jobs, often jobs that others feel are beneath them.
That's too bad, for that is not always accurate. For example, our Lord Jesus lived as a servant. He wasn't born into this world to be served, but to serve and to give His life for our salvation. And He was thrilled to do it.
Mary was thrilled, too, at the role she would play in the Lord Jesus' birth. But it would not be easy for her. Think of the problems that faced her, a young woman without a husband.
How would she explain her pregnancy to her parents? Would they believe that she had seen an angel who told her she would be the mother of the Savior? Even if they believed her, there would be many in her village who would continue to be skeptical and gossip about her. What ridicule would she have to endure in her future? And then there was Joseph, her fiancé. What would she tell him?
In spite of the obstacles, Mary said must humbly, “Lord, I am Your servant. May it be to me as You have said.” She needed a Savior. She rejoiced in His coming. And it was a privilege to do whatever for Him - to be His servant.
You know, dear friends, we who believe in the coming Savior like Mary did are God's servants too. Sometimes we forget. We go through the motions of living for Him in a cold and forced way. We grumble. We put it off when we could help. But still we have a Savior who freely forgives. It's All a Matter of Grace. So, trusting His love, what shall we do about it?
May we this Christmas and always rejoice to say with Mary, “Whatever you want for me, Lord, may it happen in my life. You are mine; I am yours. Do with me as You wish, and I know that what You wish will be good. Why? Because It's All a Matter of Your Grace.” Grant it to us all for Jesus' sake. Amen.