Heaven's Most Wanted Woman, Part 1

FAMILY  Season 2, Episode 010,  "Heaven's Most Wanted Woman", Part 1,  audio podcast by Janet Chester Bly, ends at 23:44. Looking into God's Father heart as He chose Mary to mother His Son. Sponsored by BlyBooks.com Legacy Series. 
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Transcript

HEAVEN'S MOST WANTED WOMAN
Janet Chester Bly
Circa 1993 
 
 I was being interviewed on a woman’s TV show. It was one of those free-for-all Russian roulette things in which I had no idea what she would ask me beforehand. I’m praying I’ll have wonderful words of wisdom and a quick insight. One of the questions she asked me, “What do you think, out of all the Scriptures, is the one woman we can look to as role model for women today?” 

First, I wondered where she’s coming from. There exist so many views, theologies, and philosophies, especially with the thrust of the women’s movement. But I start going through a list in my mind. I admire and respect Lydia, Priscilla, Abigail, Deborah. Then she adds, “Please, don’t say Deborah!” 

That gave me a little information. She didn’t want a strong, leader-type woman. She’s looking for someone entirely different. But then I thought, she’s asking me the wrong question. I would have no problem picking a woman if she said, “Who do you think God would choose to be role model for a woman today?” I had no doubt. 

“Mary!” I replied. And she said, “Which Mary?” “Mary, the mother of Jesus.” And she burst out, “But it isn’t even Christmas.” And that’s pretty much what we think of Mary from a Protestant point of view. 

De-Liberated 

What a pity, Mary, you lived two thousand years too soon. Barefoot, hearth-chained, and (how dare I say it?) renowned by association to your men. But who would God choose to use today to mother His Son? 

Mary, a surprise, strange choice by God. Yet we get a secret glance into a part of His heart. How does a woman these days find favor with God? How can we know we’re pleasing to Him? We look at a woman like Mary. She was entrusted to one of the most sacred duties, whether man or woman, to bear God’s being in her womb. And to nurture his humanity to adulthood. 

 Mary’s very human. We all can relate to her. As wives and mothers, we have husbands and children who bring challenge, confusion, and complexity into our lives. Mary struggled like we do. But what did God see in Mary that made Him think she could do something like this for Him?  

Four Mary Qualities

 1.)  A Quick Faith

Mary was a woman of the divine Yes. Luke 1:38, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

With those words we see astounding trust. She accepted death to her own personal plans when God announced to her what she must do for Him. And awkward circumstance for a virgin, unmarried. An incredible story to relate with risks, unpleasantness, possible rejection, and social stigma.  

A writer observed about our century of believers, “We’re the richest, most educated who’ve ever lived on this earth. And we’re the biggest whiners. We don’t like to be inconvenienced or crimped in any way. That includes our lifestyles and our service.” 

I don’t see that in Mary one little bit. And I have to think that wasn’t the first time she said ‘yes’ to Him. She must have practiced in a lot of little things before. I’m sure He tested her to know ahead her probable response. 

We can also practice that kind of quick faith. When God speaks to us in quiet, little ways, we should immediately do those things, even if no one else knows. We like actions that bring attention or recognition. But what about obedience in little stuff just because the Lord tells us to do it? Then watch for His quiet confirmation.  

2.)  Quality Praise

A poor, illiterate Jewish woman offered the most astounding words of praise. 

Luke 1:46-55, “My soul magnifies and extols the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked upon the low station of his handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations of all ages will call me blessed and declare me happy and to be envied for he who is Almighty has done great things for me. And holy is his name.”    

How did Mary learn to praise like that? What an act of worship, plus lovely poetry, and dynamite praise. She recalled what God had done for her and Israel, and all people everywhere. It’s saturated with the Old Testament, Psalms, Hannah’s song with humble consecration God would choose her to fulfill an ancient promise. It’s spontaneous power of God’s wonder, holiness, and mercy. I’m sure this came from a permeation of Scriptures, meditations in her heart and mind through hearing from her family and the priests. She most likely didn’t read them herself. Then she expressed those wonderful words in her time with Elizabeth.  

We need this, a constant pouring over of the Scriptures. We need the songs of the church, the hymns of the ages, as well as the enlightenment of the poets of our day. One of the greatest things for me has been to be part of a church choir. That’s not just because of singing on Sunday mornings and leading in worship. It’s also due to learning those songs so well through much rehearsing. So, in times of private praise, the words and tunes of those songs become part of me, and I can give them back to God. Songs become much easier to memorize than words only.  

Sometimes I look out in the congregation when I’m helping lead in the worship of the church family and see people who don’t even open their mouths. And I think, my goodness, you don’t have to know how to sing to let the words pour out.  

Hymns like this – “Praise ye the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise Him for He is thy health and salvation!” 

“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father! There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not. As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.” 

“I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice, to worship you, O my soul, rejoice. Take joy, my King, in what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.” 

Quality praise to the Lord takes practice. After all, we’re getting ready for the great praise choir of heaven. I’ve got a book of lists I pull out every so often entitled, 14,000 Things to be Happy About. I use this not only to think of fun and cheerful stuff, but it also stirs creativity in me. It inspires poetry and articles and entire scenes.  

Why not start your own Praise Journal and keep writing in it until you’ve reached 14,000? Or take Mary’s own Magnificat and paraphrase it with your own thoughts and phrases, taken from your own life.  

3.)  Contemplation, a Deep Thinker. 

Luke 2:18,19, “And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” And Luke 2:51, “Then Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother pondered all these things in her heart.” 

Mary was a thoughtful teen and meditating mother, always casting around in her mind what things meant. She wrote important data on the tablet of her heart.

We need to be thinkers, not just letting life happen. We should consider events and ponder God’s plan and purpose for ourselves and our families. Come apart at times to wait in His presence, to ask what He’s doing and your part in it.

Sometimes our friends will come visit us in Winchester, at this little rustic town. And they’ll say, “I don’t get it. Why are you guys here? There’s no McDonald’s, no shopping mall or large church.”

We keep reminding them. It’s there we’ve found space, quiet, time to study and think and pray. Therefore, we can better communicate through our assignments and book projects. We also have opportunity for more travel to speak and research. We couldn’t do all that in a very busy place. I believe we all need spaces like that in our lives, no matter where we live. At another time, with small kids, all I had was a closet for privacy to get away by myself.

Across the street now from our place, I can walk three miles all around the lake. And I’ll probably only see a skunk or deer or some other nature friend. 

Jesus said, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31). 

4.)  Mary cooperated with God and her husband.

This impresses me the most. The greater honor for this astounding task God asked her to do would go to another, to Jesus, her child. But cooperation can be seen most with Joseph. You see, the angel first appeared to her. She believed long before Joseph. She would carry the child. Her genes would be part of his humanity. But as soon as an angel gave instructions to Joseph, Mary respected the word of the Lord through her husband. 

When Joseph finally believed, Mary forgave his unbelief. When Joseph said they should escape to Egypt, she went with him. And when Joseph said they should return to Israel, she obeyed. She didn’t resent the fact she wasn’t the spiritual receiver, advisor, or go-between anymore. 

Many years ago, I went through an intense search to try to find what God wanted me to do, just as husband Steve had done before me. In the same way, I tried lots of different things. I attended courses, did some studies, took all kinds of assorted classes. During this time, Steve entered the pastorate in his first church. Eventually, some folks in the church requested written transcripts of his sermons. Each week we listed an announcement in the bulletin and Steve spoke from the pulpit about this volunteer ministry opportunity. And no one said, “Wow, that’s what I’d love to do!”

I suggested he ask his secretary. “Oh, no,” Steve said. “That takes lots of time and she’s plenty busy as it is.” So, one day I was praying about this and I heard His quiet voice, “Why don’t you do it?” I objected immediately. “Lord, I’m trying so hard to find what you want me to be doing for the rest of my life. I don’t have time to give for transcripts.” And I heard again, “You do it.” 

So, I began the long slog of weekly typing from a recording. It seemed to take forever. I did not exhibit quick and cheerful faith when I first heard these words from the Lord. But an astounding thing happened. As I was obedient and paid much closer attention to his sermons, I told Steve, “You know, some of this stuff is pretty good.” 

During this time, I’d been going to writer’s conferences and learned how to present a manuscript for publishing. So, I asked Steve, “Would you allow me to take some of these stories and potential articles, brush and clean them up to look wonderful and send them to an editor?”

That began a process in which Steve began to write, which incited me to get more into writing. We needed to do this together, for this area of communication. However, it never would have happened if I didn’t pay attention to that quiet voice, “Type those transcripts yourself.”

We all have different styles, personalities, gifts and talents, as well as circumstances. No matter who we are, we can’t ignore Mary. By looking at Mary, we peer into God’s secret heart. We learn something about Him we’d never know without this chosen woman.

Who would God choose today to mother His Son? He’d choose a woman, a wife, a mother like Mary. She’d have quick faith, quality praise, be a deep thinker and cooperate with Him and the man in her life.