Mary: A Model of Faith, Obedience, and Trust

Mary responded I am the Lord's servant May everything you have said about me come true and then the angel left her that's absolutely amazing I am the Lord's servant May everything you have said about me pregnant and she's not married come true I've obviously been thinking a lot about Mary since I was asked to speak about her and I've begun to realize something of the depth of her faith her humility her absolute trust in the one true God who she sincerely worshiped. [00:08:56]

The Lord isn't arbitrary in whom he chooses he knew Mary from her very beginning he knew her when she was in her mother's womb he watched her grow in faith trust and obedience he knew she was the one who could mother his son on Earth because it wasn't the birth alone but all the years following teaching Jesus how to walk how to talk taking him to the synagogue teaching him the stories of the Old Testament and everything that any mother does for her son. [00:09:59]

God certainly does not want us to try to ad itate her it isn't mimicry he's after he wants us to know him as one knows someone really close to us if we're sincere and Marian spoke about this this morning about knowing him really knowing him of course we shall never fully know him till we see him face to face but we can increasingly come to know him and if we're sincere in our request to know him he'll draw close and reveal himself to our spirit. [00:10:53]

Then to walk closely with him we must obey it's his life in iners that counts not our effort our second story about Mary which I have now lost uh takes place about 13 years later Mary's now married and she's got other children and this story is going to show us was her Humanity like you and me she wasn't perfect the family were returning home back to Galilee back to Nazareth from Jerusalem. [00:11:53]

Mary quietly told Jesus that they were running out of wine and they needed wine now up to this point although Jesus had chosen his disciples and he'd been teaching them and teaching others too he had not yet done any Miracle of healing or any kind of Supernatural Miracle he hadn't so he said to his mother quietly my uh hasn't come yet in other words no really no so what happened then and what Mary did then shows her bold and complete confidence in her son nodding towards Jesus she says to the servants whatever he tells you to do do it. [00:21:28]

We need to remember that the servants did not really know Jesus at this time they didn't know him but they did know Mary they so honored respected and trusted her that they listened to what Jesus had to say because she told them to listen to him then I believe hearing the calm Authority in the voice of Jesus and seeing how genuine he was feel filled with truth and life and light they obeyed his instructions but Mary had pointed them to Jesus. [00:24:16]

If Mary was here today she would say the same thing to us she would say Point your neighbors point your families Point your friends to Jesus but to do what he tells us to do we too have to listen the servants had to listen to the instructions of Jesus we need to make time in our day to listen to what God has to say to us we live in a busy world and it's so easy to find our hours take all taken up. [00:25:17]

I'm sure many of you if not most of you already pray and read your Bible daily now make time to listen then and this is the words of Mary whatever he says to you do it let us pray father thank you for Mary thank you Lord she did do a wonderful job with Jesus and more than that thank you that she knew you personally that she believed her son was the Messiah that she had such strength of faith that she was there when the Holy Spirit came and was in that upper room. [00:26:12]

Thank you for everything about her and thank you most of all for those words that she's saying now to us whatever he says to you do it Lord enable us to listen and to do what you tell us to do not just as a community not just as a church but as individuals help us Lord to lay aside our own plans and to listen and to do what you tell us to do amen. [00:27:16]

Mary's ability to ponder and reflect on the events of her life, such as finding Jesus in the temple, highlights the value of contemplation in our spiritual journey. By taking time to reflect, we can gain deeper insights into God's work in our lives and grow in understanding and faith. [00:17:48]

Mary's instruction at the wedding in Cana, "Whatever he tells you to do, do it," underscores the importance of obedience to God's will. Her confidence in Jesus' abilities serves as a reminder to trust in God's guidance and act in faith, even when the outcome is uncertain. [00:25:06]

Mary's journey is a testament to a life lived in devotion and trust in God. Her experiences encourage us to cultivate a deep, personal relationship with God, characterized by faith, humility, and obedience. By following her example, we can navigate our own spiritual journeys with grace and confidence. [00:27:19]