December 17, 2023 "Responding With Joy"

ReNew Ames Messages

The story of the choosing/calling of Mary. We're going to walk through Mary's Song. "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior." How might this be good news for us? In her circumstances, she responds with a song. And not just any song, it's a song that before it's about anything else, it's about joy. She responds with joy. This song reminds us that an appropriate response to God's presence is joy. Not fear. Not guilt. Not obligation. But joy. What would lead her to sing for joy? Maybe it's her foundational trust in the goodness of God. She chooses to believe that her life is filled with the presence of a God who is on her side and acts generously toward her and through her. What would it be like for us to frame our lives like that? "For he has been mindful of (or, he has looked with favor on) the humble state of his servant." How might that be good news? Do you ever imagine God watching you? If you do, how do you imagine God looks at you? Is that a scary thought? Are God's eyes cold? Judgmental? Or are they patient, warm, invitational, full of love and grace? God looking at her is a wonderful thing to Mary. She doesn't feel small or diminished. She seems to be filled up and lifted up. "God brings down the proud and lifts up the humble." Most of us don't have it all together. We fear all sorts of things. Ask for help. We've got a whole community full of people willing to help. And when we humble ourselves in that way, God is waiting to rescue. God's choice of Mary really is subversive. God didn't choose a powerful person to bear God's son. God chose a nobody from Nazareth. Maybe God can do something through your little life. Maybe God can do something big through this little church. Speaker: Aaron Vis Scripture: Luke 1:26-56 http://bible.com/events/49185352