Imagine with me: a young woman leaves the doctor’s office building holding in her hand an ultrasound snapshot of her child. It happens to be a 3D rendering, revealing the first 12 weeks of the young baby’s life. She is excited, amazed and happy. She ponders the news with an expectation and a deep willingness to move forward in this life journey. Her life is about to change drastically. Her body will change shape significantly. She will experience a new rush of hormones. Her eating habits and desires will change, along with her thinking, dreams, feelings and smell. She is willing for all this because of the hope that captures her heart and the potential joy of what is to come.

“I am the Lord’s servant…may it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1:38

This is the heart expression of Mary, the mother of Jesus, after she heard that she will be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and bear a child and give birth to a son, the son of the most high God.

Mary’s life was radically changed, her reputation was impacted, her future completely altered, and her comfort and security was significantly challenged. All this by the very will and purpose of God. And what was her response? “I am your servant and you are the Lord, so…as you wish.” For the follower of Christ we have a very parallel experience to Mary, for by the work of the Holy Spirit, Christ has been born in our hearts and spirit. And changes begin to happen. When Jesus is in residence, you start to think differently. You don’t desire to eat the junk food of the flesh anymore, and your shape or habits change to reflect his heart. Our response is to stay as a servant to the Lord: “As you wish.”

“The only right a Christian has is the right to surrender all his rights.” Oswald Chambers

If God be God and we his creation, then relinquishment, surrender on our part is the best part of wisdom. Mary’s yielded, surrendered posture to the Lord’s plan for her life brought about the most wonderful good news for all of mankind, even though it altered her world. May our hearts respond in like manner, and if so it truly will be a Merry Christmas.