What will you "bring forth" for God?: A Christmas Message

When Jesus was born, Galatians 4:4 tells us he was “born of a woman”.  The King James Version says in Luke 2:7 that Jesus’ mother, Mary, “brought forth” her firstborn son, Jesus: the Word of God that took on flesh and dwelt among us. Because of the Son that Mary brought forth, we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

The question I have for you is this: what is God calling you to “bring forth”? There is something that God has placed in you to bring into the world so He receives glory. What are you called to bring forth?

As you begin to ponder that, let's think about Mary’s experience as she prepared to bring forth the Son of God. We have to speculate a little since the Bible doesn’t include all the information we might want to know. My purpose in doing this is to draw an analogy between Mary’s experience and ours: we will see that Mary's experience as she prepared to bring forth what God had placed in her may reflect our experience as we travail in labor to bring forth the ministries God has given us. 

Mary’s story begins with the angel Gabriel announcing that God has chosen her to “bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31)

After this, there are a lot of details that I’m really curious about, but on which the Bible is silent. We do know that Mary’s cousin Elizabeth reacted with loving affirmation and encouragement for Mary. (Luke 1:39-55) But I wonder about Mary’s other family and friends…I wonder, did she feel safe sharing her story with anyone -- and if so, did they believe her?

What did her parents think when they found out about the pregnancy - belief and support, or disappointment and shame? We know that Joseph, her fiance, planned to break the engagement -- until God intervened and confirmed that he should marry Mary. (Matthew 1:19-21) What about Mary’s in-laws? I wonder if Joseph shared his dream with his parents in defense of Mary, and did they believe it if he did?

Were there whispers when Mary went out into town? Was she a target for gossip? Did the gossip follow her to Bethlehem, and when her family finally moved back to Nazareth, had people forgotten or did that old story still haunt her? 

We are getting the idea that this could have been really hard for Mary. She had already declared that “all generations will call [her] blessed” (Luke 1:48) -- and we do! -- but she still went through some rough patches! She might have suffered a lot of shame and judgment from others who didn’t understand the revelation God gave her.

We know a few details from Scripture about Mary’s trip to Bethlehem and the night of Jesus’ birth. Culture has romanticized it a bit, with cattle lowing a lullaby and snuggly sheep and the peaceful quiet of a starry night. I rather enjoy the romanticized “silent night” -- the soft music, the lights, the wonder of it all.  But I wonder . . . was this how it was for Mary?  Think about it:

Was she in early labor -- while riding a donkey??

In children’s books the stables are warm and friendly places with happy animals, but the reality is that it was still a barn and probably smelly. And dirty.  Not a place that a woman would want to give birth.

By the way, did she have any help with the birth -- a midwife, anyone? Had Elizabeth at least warned her what she was in for? 

Was Joseph her coach and cheerleader, or the proverbial fainting father? 

Honestly, it was not an easy thing for Mary to “bring forth” her firstborn son, not an easy thing for her to bring forth the ministry God had placed within her. 

I’m so thankful that the Bible records some beautiful moments in Mary’s years as a new mom and Jesus’ years as a child:

The visit from shepherds in the stable after angels announce the birth of a Savior wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:8-20). After having to give birth in a stable I bet that was a great encouragement!

Later on, the surprise visit from the Magi, those wise men from the east, affirming the kingship of Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12)

Words of affirmation from the Simeon and Anna that Jesus was God’s Christ and would bring salvation when he was dedicated at the Temple (Luke 2:25-38)

But then, Simeon also predicts that “a sword will pierce through [Mary’s] own soul also” (Luke 2:35).  Not words any mom wants to hear. And then, years later -- enemies, lies, betrayal, torture, a cross. 

We have all heard the quote that to have children is to have your heart go walking around outside your body (Elizabeth Stone). Who can imagine the pain that Mary, as the mother of the Lord Jesus, felt when He suffered more than any person had ever suffered before? Did the words of Simeon flash in her mind as she felt the sword of grief pierce her soul? Did she ever wonder, like many others, why God brought this child into the world only to let Him die?

Let me pull this all together now because I want you to see how Mary’s journey is also our journey:

Mary’s story takes place when the world was longing for the Messiah to come. The world was a mess for the Jews, and they were longing for a king that would set the wrong things right.

At that moment when the world was waiting, God asked Mary to “bring forth” the Lord Jesus Christ: a display of the glory of God on earth.  

Today, we are -- again -- awaiting the coming of our King. And our King already said (in Revelation 22) that He is coming soon.

At this moment when the world is waiting, God is asking each of us to “bring forth” something that will display the glory of God on earth.

So again I ask you: what is God calling you to “bring forth”? What is your assignment to display the glory of God on earth?

When Mary accepted her assignment, she declared, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

When you accept your assignment, you, like Mary, take on the role of maidservant of the Lord.  You allow yourself to be a vessel through which the kingdom of God is revealed to the earth. If I may use the analogy, you allow yourself, like Mary, to become pregnant with the ministry the Lord has placed in you to give the world. You allow yourself, like Mary, to go through some hard places so that something of Christ can be birthed in you -- whether it be a more Christ-like character that others will observe, to a ministry (big or small) -- something in your life will make Jesus Christ more visible. 

We saw from Mary that being the Lord’s maidservant is not easy work.  It took a lot of courage, a lot of faith, a lot of deciding “I will not regard what they think/say, i will only regard what God has said.”

To be a maidservant is to sometimes be misunderstood...to sometimes feel abandoned, alone, rejected...to sometimes wonder why things turned out this way...to sometimes be in pain and suffer loss (as Mary saw her son rejected and die).

But, to be a maidservant is to be able to say, like Mary, that despite all these things: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! He has regarded me (little me!) and done great things for me! (Luke 1:46-49)

To be His maidservant is to be able to receive gifts so precious that there is no where to store them except to treasure them up in your heart (Luke 2:19). To be His maidservant is to be able to see the ministry that you birthed in faith take flight and bring glory to God on earth.

To be a maidservant is worth it. 

One more time I’ll ask: what is God asking you to “bring forth”? Will you be His maidservant?