“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name, Jesus’…’How will this be’, Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God’…‘I am the Lord’s servant’, Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said’. Luke 1:30-38

Mary, a common jewish young woman, was the vessel for God’s miraculous, salvation gift to us. She was neither a queen nor a person of any celebrity. Mary brought into the world the greatest gift to ever be given because she had a willing spirit and a believing heart. She accepted her assignment with faith and I’m sure a fair amount of trepidation.

Is God calling you to an assignment for him? Perhaps you have been moved to teach a Sunday School class, start a new ministry in your community, or become a mentor to a young woman who is new to the faith. Maybe you are even feeling called to the mission field, to serve God in the farthest reaches of another continent. (Or to your local mission field, the grouchy neighbor next door!) As Christians, God will often call us to new tasks, new beginnings, or new levels of commitment.

How have you responded when God has moved your spirit to do something for him? Mary responded with submissive willingness and humility and God did the impossible through her. She understood that her mission was from God himself and as difficult and uncomfortable as it was for her to experience a very visible and controversial unwed pregnancy in her community, she willingly accepted the task at hand, trusting God with her reputation, her future, and her life.

The next time God calls you to a task for the kingdom, especially one that seems difficult, uncomfortable, or even humanly impossible, look to Mary as an example, and respond with a willing spirit and a believing heart, for nothing is impossible with God!