THE VIRGIN MARY'S REPUTATION
Updated: Dec 19, 2023
The virgin Mary gave one of the biggest "yes's" recorded in scripture. She was a single, teenage girl at the time an angel came to her to tell her she was pregnant with the Son of God. Can you imagine? I can’t. But you know what she did? She gave her "yes" by agreeing to bring Jesus into the world while simultaneously sacrificing her own reputation.
34 Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.” 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God. 36-38 “And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.” And Mary said, "Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her. - Luke 1:3
She encountered the will of God and immediately aligned herself with it. I believe that is why she was chosen to be the mother of Christ. Her immediate and passionate "yes" after her encounter with the angel is incredible! She said "yes" regardless of what people would think of her. She cared more about her love for God than her image in the eyes of man. Mary handed her reputation over to God. She gave her reputation to Him and risked her life in doing so because she knew how important her "yes" was. By saying "yes" to this task she was also saying "yes" to the likely accusations of cheating on her future husband, Joseph. Mary also risked Joseph leaving her and being stoned to death.
"In the ancient world, the advantage was almost always with a men in terms of marriage relations. Women practically had no rights. Joseph had two options:
1) He could continue the engagement and join Mary in her shame and marry her.
2) Following the law, he could accuse Mary of sexual immorality and releasing her from their betrothal contract. The penalty for adultery was stoning a woman."
So let’s think about this. Mary risked her reputation to everyone—those who were close to her, and those who were not. Her friends, her family, and even the man she had promised herself to for the rest of her life. She trusted God to take care of the details and not worry about what people would think of her. She knew something greater was at hand. And God ultimately restored her reputation to the most incredible degree! Mary is now the most famous mother in all of history. God gave her the most redemptive story-arch so that we would know the kind of God He is.
And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation." - Luke 1:46-50
How can we learn to say "yes" like Mary? By falling in love with God by sitting in His presence. He wants you to say "yes" out of love for Him, not out of obligation to your religion. That is how you bring the will of God to earth, by your bold and unapologetic "yes." I want to love God so much that I say "yes" to Him no matter what He asks of me, even if it costs me my reputation. Saying "yes" to God to impact even just one soul is worth losing my entire reputation. God has been showing me how to let go of the control of the image of myself I've held onto for so long.
And you know what? It has been the most freeing thing in the world to trust God with my reputation on this side of eternity. Because He is kind, and He wants the best for us and all of those in need of Him. I believe that God has a divine purpose and plan for those who forsake their image for Him. Just like with Mary's "yes," your "yes" can impact the world.
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