GOD USES THE ORDINARY – Rev. Lyle W. Pettit
One of
the classics in science fiction literature -- is Arthur C. Clarke's book
entitled -- Childhood's End.
The book begins with the appearance of alien
space craft over several of the largest & most important cities of the
world.
The commander of the aliens finally contacts
the Secretary General of the United Nations -- & establishes a relationship
with him.
He becomes the mediator between the aliens
& human-kind.
Any messages the aliens want to convey to
humans -- & any business they want to conduct -- is done through the
Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Taking into account that it is a fictional
story -- yet, in a way -- it does make sense.
I mean -- if ever our world was visited by
highly intelligent creatures from some other planet -- it is reasonable to
suppose that they would seek to make contact with an individual -- or a group
of people -- with position & prominence.
That is how things get done. -- Right?
Go to the well-placed people. -- Go to those
with connections.
Go to people who know how to make the
organizations move to accomplish something.
Contact your congressman -- or senator -- or
the president.
Go to the principal -- or superintendent --
or chair person of the board.
Go to someone important!
When the angel of the Lord appeared 2000
years ago -- however -- that is not what the angel did.
And that is what makes the Christmas story
-- as the Bible relates it -- so amazing!
Let's read it once again -- in
It's really preposterous -- isn't it?
Here we are -- listening to the same old
story -- again.
We all know how it is going to read -- what
it is going to say.
The plot doesn't change from year to year.
But no matter how predictable it is -- we do
keep on listening.
And yet there is always something new &
exciting -- waiting to be discovered. -- So let's listen carefully at the
reading of the Scriptures.
May I read it to you today from the New
Living Translation -- while you follow along in whatever Bible version you may
have before you?
She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph -- a descendant of
King David.
Gabriel appeared to her & said: -- “Greetings, favored woman! -- The
Lord is with you." (Blessed are you among women)."
Confused & disturbed -- Mary tried to think what the angel could
mean.
"Don't be frightened, Mary." -- The angel told her --
"for God has decided to bless you! -- You will become pregnant & have
a son -- & you are to name him Jesus. -- He will be very great & will
be called the Son of the Most High. -- And the Lord God will give him the
throne of his ancestor David. -- And he will reign over
Mary asked the angel -- "But how can I have a baby? -- I am a
virgin."
The angel replied: -- "The Holy Spirit will come upon you -- &
the power of the Most High will overshadow you. -- So the baby born to you will
be holy -- & he will be called the Son of God. -- What's more -- your
relative
Mary responded: -- "I am the Lord's
servant -- & I am willing to accept whatever he wants. -- May everything
you have said come true." -- And the angel left.
What a marvelous story -- a story which
contains both mystery & miracle.
It has been said that -- God always does the
Extraordinary through the Ordinary!
And certainly in our Scripture reading of
today -- that is true!
There are three extraordinary aspects of the
Christmas story!
1. It was an Extraordinary Announcement!
The place of the announcement is ordinary!
The announcement came in Galilee -- not
After all --
The announcement came in the little
Nazareth was the low spot of Galilee -- on
the highway which Roman soldiers & Greek merchants travels -- & where
they spent the night.
The announcement came in Mary's home -- not
the Temple!
The temple was the holy place of God's
dwelling; -- it was magnificent -- mysterious -- majestic; -- yet the Angel
manifested himself into Mary's modest home.
My friends -- God's glory usually descends
into ordinary places!
And this extraordinary announcement was made
to ordinary people!
Mary, of all people! --
Have you ever been tempted to ask: --
"Why Mary?"
It is amazing that God would chose a teenage
girl like Mary for such a responsible task -- of giving birth to -- &
caring for -- the only begotten Son of God!
-- It is amazing that Mary would believe the word of an angel.
Had Mary been a 21st-century girl -- she
might have gone to a psychiatrist -- saying: -- "Doctor, I’m hearing
voices."
Or worst still -- she might have gone to an
abortion clinic!
Mary was very young; -- most Bible scholars
say about age 16.
She was very young -- pregnant -- poor --
& unmarried.
Why an ordinary teenage girl -- engaged to a
man likely twice her age?
There is nothing noteworthy about Joseph --
or Mary.
They even had common names; -- there's still
nothing flashy about the names -- Joe & Mary.
We know nothing about Joseph -- except that
he was a carpenter by trade -- & a righteous man -- & he was of the
lineage of David -- but so were a lot of other men. -- And we do not know a
great deal about Mary.
But God came to an ordinary place -- &
to ordinary people -- to do an extraordinary work!
My friends -- let that in itself be an
encouragement to you today!
None of us -- no matter how ordinary -- none
of us are excluded; -- not even me; -- not even you!
It was indeed an extraordinary announcement!
"The angel said to her -- "Don't
be afraid, Mary -- you have found favor with God. -- You will become pregnant
& have a son -- & you are to name him Jesus. -- He will be very great
& will be called the Son of the Most High.
... He will reign over
The announcement tells us that the
miraculous is about to happen!
A virgin is going to have a baby! -- Mary
was indeed a virgin!
There is no getting around it -- the
Christmas story is extraordinary; -- it's a miracle!
We sometimes get a little uncomfortable with
miracles.
In this modern age -- this material &
scientific world -- we sometimes try to reduce the extraordinary to ordinary
explanations.
People are still trying to explain the
miracles of the Bible -- as just ordinary events -- or happenings.
But we can never appreciate the majesty
& the magnificence of the Christmas story -- until we understand &
accept -- "it was a miracle!"
The pastor was trying to explain to the
children the concept of the miraculous. -- He explained: -- "Let's say I
was on a 10 story building & fell off. -- When I was nearing the bottom a
whirlwind gathered around me & caught me up -- & allowed me to float
softly down to the ground to save my life. -- Now class, what caused
this?"
One little kid finally said with a question
mark: -- "Luck?"
"No, no -- you don't understand. --
Remember, I was on a 10 story building & fell off. -- And when I was
nearing the bottom a whirlwind gathered around me -- & caught me up --
& allowed me to float softly down to the ground to save my life. -- Now
class, what caused this?"
Another kid said: -- "An accident, maybe?"
"No, no you still don't understand. --
Understand, I was on a 10 story building & fell off. -- And when I was
nearing the bottom a whirlwind gathered around me -- & caught me up --
& allowed me to float softly down to the ground to save my life. -- Now
class, what caused this?"
The whole class answers: --
"Practice?"
There is no way of getting around this --
the Announcement made by the angel was most extraordinary!
In an ordinary place -- to ordinary people
-- an extraordinary announcement was made! -- The Christmas story is a miracle!
2. Not only was it an extraordinary announcement
-- but secondly, It was an Extraordinary Assignment!
Look at vs. 34 &
Stop & think about this for a moment. --
God is placing the future of the world into the hands of a young teen-aged
girl.
Now we have some very fine young ladies in
our church -- & I am very proud of them; -- I don't mean to be hard on our
teenagers.
But put the future of the world into their
hands?
Couldn't we find someone a little more --
presidential?
I mean -- if I were writing the script -- I
would have a palace -- with royalty -- & an experienced mother -- with
other children -- so that she would know exactly how to raise the Son of
God.
And again -- I am tempted to ask God --
"Why Mary?"
There were so many Israelite women to choose
from across the land.
If I were making the selection -- the
qualification list would include chronological age -- accompanied by maturity;
-- a homemaker who knew how to care for a baby -- with a husband who would be
under-standing; -- & at least an upper-class person who could best
financially care for Jesus.
I'd write in a legitimate kind of father.
-- After all, why couldn't God miraculously do His incarnation with a regular
kind of family situation?
But God choose the ordinary to do the
extraordinary!
Mary -- the humble peasant girl -- was
chosen by God.
She felt so insignificant to find favor with
God.
Listen to vs.
In her heart & mind at that moment --
even she was saying: -- "Why me, when so many others are better suited for
the job?"
Her spirit of humility is so refreshing!
Yes -- God choose the ordinary to do the
extraordinary!
The story is told about a legless beggar --
who positioned himself in front of the doors of a bank -- selling pencils for a
few cents to support himself.
Most people would toss their coins or
dollars into his cup -- & pass on their way to more important business.
However -- each time the bank president put
in coins -- he would take a pencil -- & tell the man that he was a merchant
of pencils.
One day the legless man was no longer on the
sidewalk.
Time passed -- & the banker forgot about
him -- until one day he walked into a mall. -- And there in a concession stand
sat the former beggar.
He now owned his own small business. -- He
said how happy he was to see the banker -- because he wanted to thank him.
It was the banker's encouragement -- &
the show of respect -- in telling him he was a "merchant" -- that
gave the former beggar the sense of self-worth -- & the confidence to set
up his own business.
He no longer pictured himself as a beggar
receiving gifts -- but as a "merchant of pencils."
He started selling enough pencils to support
himself -- because the banker gave him self-respect & confidence.
God can take the ordinary -- & do
something truly extra-ordinary!
He can do it in you -- if you will just
permit Him -- by yielding to His will!
Mary said: -- "I am the Lord's servant
... May it be to me as you have said."
God has always done that: -- given
extraordinary assignments to ordinary people.
Undisciplined Moses was to be the greatest
leader of the Old Testament
Unimpressive little David was to become the
great King of Israel.
David's family just couldn't see it; --
Samuel, the man of God, couldn’t see it. -- God had to correct even Samuel's
perspective.
Unholy Isaiah was to be the great Prophet of
Israel -- fore-telling the Messiah's coming!
Uncouth John the Baptist was to be the PR
man for Jesus.
We would have at least made John take a
shower & shave -- & change those camel hair clothes!
Unstable Peter was to become the Rock of the
Church!
The list could go on & on -- of how
unacceptable people -- ordinary people -- were used to do the extraordinary!
How is this possible? -- The secret is found
in the words of Gabriel to Mary: -- "The Holy Spirit will come upon you --
& the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Luke 1:35).
If you will just let the Holy Spirit have
His way in your life -- God can make something extraordinary out of your life
too!
3. And that brings me to my third point; -- not
only was it an extraordinary announcement -- & an extraordinary assignment
-- but it was also an Extraordinary Acceptance!
The only thing more extraordinary than the
announcement -- & the assignment -- is Mary's extraordinary acceptance of
the announced assignment!
Her simple response was this: -- "I am
the Lord's servant. -- May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).
Mary's submission to the will of God was
immediate & complete!
What was the potential cost of this
acceptance?
For one thing -- the loss of her family!
Can you imagine Mom & Dad trying to get
the whole thing sorted out when Mary explained she was pregnant? -- "And
who did this to you?"
It is interesting to note that we have no
idea who Mary's Mom & Dad were.
Maybe -- just maybe -- they disowned here
right there on the spot!
The cost of saying -- "Be it unto me
according to your word, Lord."
Then there were those awful rumors floating
around!
Without doubt Mary was slandered &
snubbed & shunned by her neighbors at that little
And then -- how could she explain all this
to Joseph -- to whom she was engaged.
Mary knew that Joseph was a righteous man!
-- She knew that saying "yes" to God -- likely meant Joseph saying
"no" to the marriage.
And Mary also knew that to become pregnant
out of wedlock -- in that day -- could result in the loss of life.
She could very likely receive the warrant of
being stoned to death.
We must realize that it cost a great deal of
suffering for Mary to accept this role.
The cost of saying -- "Be it unto me
according to your Word, Lord!"
Not only did God choose Mary -- but Mary
chose God too!
Mary let go of everything in order to obey
God!
Mary had a choice -- you know!
Gabriel was announcing God's purpose &
plans to Mary.
But Mary had to choose to allow it to be
carried out -- with the full knowledge of the consequences.
What a courageous choice! -- What a
courageous young lady!
If anyone faced a complex situation -- it
was Mary!
It is easy to say "Yes" -- during
moments of heavenly
We all would be "the Lord's
servant" when looking upon the face of a visiting angel. -- We all would
-- like Mary -- agree to "the plan."
The test comes -- however -- when the plan intersects
with real life.
That's why the test & struggles -- no
matter who you are -- single or married -- a parent or childless -- young or
old -- can point to something greater!
That something greater is that God uses
ordinary real people in the hard places of life -- to work out His plan.
Are you -- are you a willing & obedient
participant?
Conclusion:
What is the extraordinary thing that God is
asking of you today?
You may be saying -- "How can God save
me from this devastating situation -- from my past of sinfulness -- from
myself?
How can God do anything extraordinary -- in
my wasted life?
The answer is the same for us as it was for
Mary: -- "With God nothing is impossible" (Luke 1:37).
At age
She found her marriage to be one of utter
humiliation.
Her husband was often angry &
melancholy.
Her mother-in-law was a cruel & brutal
critic.
Even the maid despised her.
In spite of her best attempts at devotion to
her husband & his family -- she was subjected to relentless criticism.
Forbidden by her husband to attend church --
she sought God in His Word -- & worshipped Him in secret.
She learned that even in the midst of her
dreary circumstances -- she was -- in her words -- "perfectly fine --
within the safe hands of God."
In her book -- Experiencing The Depths Of
Jesus Christ -- she wrote these words: -- "Abandonment (to Jesus Christ)
is the key to the fathomless depth. -- Abandonment is the key to the spiritual
life."
My friends -- God wants to do something
extraordinary in your life today!
God always does the Extraordinary through
the Ordinary!
Are you willing to say "yes" to
His will in your life today? -- To allow Him to do an extraordinary work of
grace in your heart?
He can -- you know -- for with God all
things are possible!
Oh -- Let Him have His way with you!
Let the miracle of Christmas become a
miracle in your heart & life today