Your Work & The Christmas Story Of LukeSample

# Christmas and Work: Imitating Mary in our Attitude Toward Our Work Previously, we considered how God interrupted Zechariah in the context of his work. Now we encounter another interruption. In Luke 1:26-38, the angel Gabriel appeared to a young woman named Mary, informing her that she would give birth to a son and that he would be the messianic king of Israel (1:26-28). Mary was “greatly troubled” by this announcement (1:29). The angel explained that her pregnancy would come, not by ordinary means, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, Mary’s son would be called “the Son of God” (1:35). Imagine how Mary must have felt upon hearing this angelic news. On the one hand, she was uniquely favored by God to bear God’s own Son, an extraordinary honor and calling. Surely Mary felt excited, grateful, and humbled. Yet, at the same time, what Mary heard must have troubled her, since her life would never be the same again and the people in her life, including her fiancé, would probably see her as an immoral woman rather than a woman highly favored by God. Nevertheless, Mary’s response to the angel was a simple but profound statement of faith and submission: “I am the Lord’s servant. . . . May your word to me be fulfilled” (1:38). What an astounding and exemplary response to God’s unexpected call! Mary was saying, in effect, my life is not my own. I belong to God and God can do with me as he pleases. I freely and gladly submit to his will. You may be in a position to choose the kind of work you do. An angel of the Lord hasn’t assigned it to you. Sometimes, however, our occupation is determined by our family, financial condition, or social station. Yet, whether you have chosen your form of employment or it has been laid upon you, you have the opportunity to choose to imitate Mary. You can offer yourself to the Lord as his servant, doing your daily work for his purposes, glory, and delight. So, today, no matter what you do for your work, may God give you the grace to imitate Mary. May you say, “I am your servant, Lord. May my work honor you and contribute to your sovereign purposes today. I offer to you all that I am.”