Quote from Forum Archives on April 14, 2003, 10:02 am

Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>

DARING TO DREAM AGAIN #8/9
THE MARY WAY
April 13, 2003

Text: Luke 1:26-38; 2:33-35; John 19:25-27

When you hear the term “American dream,” what images come to mind? I
think typical images include financial stability and security, a home, an
opportunity to succeed, freedom from another’s threats, an ability to
work hard and see some results. One thing about Americans - as I have
both experienced and learned from history - is that we tend to be
resilient dreamers. Regardless of what kinds of downturns Americans
experience, we tend to renew our hopes and visions of the “American
dream” fairly quickly. I submit, for example, the rise and popularity of
several multi-level marketing businesses. Each of them that I know about
attempts to connect with that vision of the “American dream” that we
carry as a people. They try to connect with those who are seeking a way
and a means to financial security and even independence. As a result,
many of us have heard at some time something about the “Amway way” or the
“Mary Kay way.”

This morning, I want to remind us of the dreams and visions that
Christians are supposed to carry and maintain. As the theme of our 50-Day
Spiritual Adventure reminds us, Christians are supposed to dare to dream
again. Our teacher this morning is Mary, who teaches us about the “Mary
way.”

In Luke 1, God calls a young teenage girl to a new dream. When God called
Mary to be the mother of Jesus, she had to stretch her faith and cross
over several comfort zones. Mary was a young teenager. Many Bible
students believe Mary would have been about 15 years old at the time. She
lived in a male-dominated culture, where people would not understand or
sympathize with a woman who was pregnant and not married. Now God was
asking Mary to risk the misunderstanding and the judgment of others by
bearing the baby Jesus. Mary’s dream would involve risk. Yet, in spite of
the risk, Mary accepted God’s dream. This is the “Mary way.”

Mary’s first lesson is that Mary trusted God. She trusted His holiness
and goodness and mercies. She believed that God loved her. As a result,
Mary accepted God’s call not as a dare but as a dream from one who loves
her. When God challenges us to a new dream, He is doing so because He
loves us. Sure, it will involve risk. But God isn’t just going to use us
like a so-called friend who would dare us to do something we shouldn’t.
Mary teaches us that God wants us to dream because He wants to bring
salvation to His house and His world.

The dream that God gave to Mary had everything to do with her playing a
part in the great divine drama. God has a Master plan for his people. It
involves sending Jesus to be the Savior of the world. And God calls each
of us to play some part in that drama. God has given each of us a gift to
invest in his Kingdom.

God calls each of us to use our particular gift and to employ our
particular resources to be part of a much larger drama. The part we play
may not seem like a “big deal.” Or we may not think of ourselves as very
significant in the scope of God’s Kingdom. Mary never expected herself to
be given the kind of vision she received. Our God-given dream may be to
help support one of the homeless shelters in our area; to lead a small
group or a ministry team; to teach a Sunday school class; to witness to a
neighbor; to pray. Whatever your God-given dream is, it is to fulfill
God’s dreams.

The “Mary way” requires a response. “You will be with child and give
birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him
the throne of His father, David, and he will reign over the house of
Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Mary’s final response comes in verse 38. “I am the Lord’s servant. May it
be to me as you have said.” Courage doesn’t mean we don’t feel fear. The
typical serviceman and servicewoman has heard that numerous times. It
means we act in spite of fear. That’s why one of the most repeated
phrases of the Bible is “don’t fear!”

The “Mary way” may involve pain. Mary did God’s will, and the world has
been blessed for her obedience. However, for Mary there was also pain in
doing what God wanted her to do. When Mary brought Jesus into the temple
when Jesus was just eight days old, there was a prophet named Simeon in
the temple. When he saw Jesus, he blessed Joseph and Mary and then said,
“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in
Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the
thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your
own soul too.”

That sword no doubt pierced Mary’s heart when Jesus was dying on the
cross. As Jesus was being crucified, Mary had the painful experience of
watching her son hang and ultimately die on that cross. In John 19:25, we
read about Mary standing at the foot of the cross and seeing Jesus die.
It’s a burdensome grief for a parent to endure the death of a child. Mary
bore Jesus into the world. Living the dream meant pain for Mary. The
“Mary way” can be a source of great joy and blessing but, like many
things in life, it can come at a cost. Dr. Bill Shereos, pastor of First
Evangelical Free Church in Chicago, Illinois, writes, “Any significant
accomplishment in life brings not only pleasure but pain: Getting a
degree gives you the reward of an education at the pain of tuition and
effort. Having a child brings you the reward of parenthood and the agony
of labor and nurturing another human. Sharing Christ with another brings
you the reward of obedience at the price of appearing foolish. Leading a
ministry team brings the rewards of teamwork but the daily difficulty of
responsibility.

If your dream is worthy of the title of dream, there will be difficulty
attached. Whether it is learning a new language, going on a short-term
mission trip, sharing Christ in your neighborhood or office—dreams come
at the price of pain. But it is the pain of growth and maturity, not the
pain of regret and dissipation!” (Bill Shereos, “Go for the Gulp,” 50-Day
Spiritual Adventure Pastor’s Manual, Wheaton, IL: Mainstay Church
Resources, 2003, p. B265.)

The purpose of life is to glorify God. C. S. Lewis’s “children’s” books,
The Narnia Chronicles, contain much truth. In the first book, The Lion,
the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lucy arrives in the enchanted land of Narnia
for the first time. She is being prepared for her visit introduction to
Aslan, the King of Narnia. Aslan is the Christ figure of the book. Mrs.
Beaver is preparing Lucy for this first meeting. Lucy asks: “Is he—quite
safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” “That you will,
dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can
appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they either braver than
most or else just silly.” “Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy. “Safe?” said
Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything
about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell
you.”

God’s ultimate purpose is that we be transformed into people who are like
Jesus.

There is some talk these days about how our men and women will come back
from this conflict changed. Most of the references I have heard
concerning this imply the trauma they experienced and will be forced to
relive. The nightmare aspects of warfare, if you will. Now these are
real; I do not discount them. Nor do I discount that their experiences
will change these men and women. Any experience we have typically changes
us. This does not mean that all of the changes they will experience will
be traumatic or nightmarish. I hope that they are changed by their
experience of seeing the joyful celebration of Iraqi men, women, and
children experiencing liberation from totalitarian brutality. I hope that
they are changed to recognize the ugly face of evil and resolved to
prevent it wherever they can. I hope they are changed by the presence of
God on their respective battlefields as His presence has been made known
to them throughout their ordeal.

The men and women standing near the cross of Jesus that dreadful day were
also changed. At first, they could only see and feel the pain of grief
and horror as a beloved son, beloved friend, and beloved leader was
unjustly condemned and crucified. So it would appear at that moment that
all of the change they experienced was negative and traumatic and
nightmarish. But their change was not finished, for their experience at
the foot of the cross prepared them for the further change God planned.
The change on that dark day of crucifixion prepared them to accept the
victorious Lord on the resurrection day. They were ready to receive
glory.

The “Mary way” tells us that when we accept God’s dreams for us, He will
prepare us for the changes we will need to experience. Have you let God
change your life? Are you living what God dreams for you, or are you
resisting His dreams, His will, His love, His salvation? God could have
stayed out of human affairs and in the safety of His heavenly realm. But
He chose the way of sacrifice out of His love for us rather than to let
us live in the eternal torture of satan. If you need to change your life
for God; if you need to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, I encourage
you not to delay. Even as we sing our closing hymn, come to Him now.

(Adapted from 50-Day Spiritual Adventure Pastor’s Manual, Wheaton, IL:
Mainstay Church Resources, 2003, pp. B261-266.)

Rev. Charles A. Layne, pastor, First Baptist Church, Bunker Hill, IN

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