I spoke last Sunday at our church on Mary’s story. I was given the verses Luke 1:39-55 which is when Mary goes to visit here relative, Elizabeth, just after the angel, Gabriel, visited her.

This is the talk I gave:

From today’s reading, this is the key verse that stood out to me.

Luke 1:45 “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!”

Mary’s Story

Today’s reading is about Mary hurrying off to visit Elizabeth (who was pregnant with who we know as John the Baptist) and her song of praise.

Why did she do that? Let’s go back to v26 when the angel came to her.

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² 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, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Let’s look at a couple of things.

• Initial fear reaction – typical of most people that encountered angels.
• Asks a perfectly reasonable question “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
  Look a the difference between the way she and Zechariah asks.
• The angel tells her and she just accepts it.
• That’s what I’m going to talk about today. The amazing faith of Mary.

Faith is often admired, discussed, and even celebrated—but obedience is where faith proves itself real.

Many people claim belief in God, but Scripture consistently shows us that true faith moves, acts, and submits to God’s will. Faith that remains theoretical never transforms a life. But faith that obeys—faith that responds to God’s word with trust and action—becomes a channel through which God acts.

In Luke, Mary has received a promise that defies logic, biology, and social safety. Yet instead of retreating in fear, she steps forward in obedience. Her response teaches us what it means to live a life of obedient faith.

Through Mary, we see that obedience is not the result of understanding everything—it is the result of trusting God.

V39 “At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.”

Mary had just received the most shocking news of her life: she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear the Son of God. She was young, unmarried, and vulnerable. The consequences could include shame, rejection, or even death.

Yet notice what Scripture says: “Mary got ready and hurried.”

She didn’t delay. She didn’t negotiate with God. She didn’t wait until circumstances felt safer.

She went straight to Elizabeth, probably the only person that would absolutely understand what was going on. Mary would most likely already have known about Zechariah and Elizabeth’s interaction with Gabriel.

Last week in Gai’s message she recommended that we read the genealogy at the beginning of Matthew. Gai, I did my homework. I read the genealogy. Turns out it is quite helpful for my talk.

• Comes in 3 sections:
  • Abraham to David
  • David to exile
  • Exile to Christ
• These three are significant brackets
  • The establishment of the nation of Israel
  • The splitting of Israel and decline and eventual exile
  • The “quiet” period until Christ’s birth. God doesn’t seem to be talking to the nation of Israel apart from a few isolated individuals

I won’t read it out but we will look at a few of the names in there.

Let’s look at the Abraham to David period.

There are some real stories of faith in there

The genealogy starts with Abraham for a good reason.

Abraham’s faithfulness stands as one of the clearest biblical examples of trusting God in obedience, even when the path ahead was uncertain. His journey of faith began when God called him to leave his homeland, promising to make him a great nation, despite Abraham having no clear destination or visible assurance (Genesis 12:1–4).

12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.

Abraham obeyed immediately, demonstrating a faith that acted on God’s word rather than relying on circumstances. This faith was tested through years of waiting for the promised heir, during which Abraham struggled with doubt yet continued to trust that God would fulfil His covenant (Genesis 15:2–6).
Scripture records that Abraham “believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness,” emphasizing that faithfulness is rooted in trust in God, not on human achievement. The ultimate test of Abraham’s faith came when God commanded him to sacrifice his son Isaac, the very child through whom the promises were to be fulfilled (Genesis 22:1–12). Abraham obeyed without hesitation, believing that God was able to provide or even raise Isaac from the dead. We see this in Hebrews 11:17–19.

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

This act revealed a faith marked by total surrender and confidence in God’s character. Despite moments of fear and failure, Abraham’s consistent return to trust defined his faithfulness.

Abrahams’s son, Isaac

Isaac’s faithfulness is often expressed through quiet obedience and steady trust rather than dramatic action. As the promised son through whom God’s covenant with Abraham would continue, Isaac learned faith in the shadow of his father’s example. His willingness to submit when Abraham was commanded to offer him on Mount Moriah reflects a deep trust in both his father and God (Genesis 22:6–9) (when he was bound and placed on the alter). Later in life, Isaac demonstrated faithfulness by remaining in the land God showed him, despite famine, and trusting the Lord’s promise to bless and multiply his descendants. God told him not to go down to Egypt and he obeyed. Instead of responding to conflict with violence when others contested his wells, Isaac chose peace, moving on until God provided a place of rest (Genesis 26:17–22). These actions reveal a faith marked by patience, humility, and perseverance. Isaac’s life teaches that faithfulness is often lived out quietly, through consistent obedience and reliance on God’s promises rather than through bold or public acts.

Isaac’s son, Jacob

Jacob’s faithfulness developed gradually through struggle, failure, and transformation. Early in his life, Jacob relied on deception and self-effort, yet God remained faithful to His covenant promises. Jacob’s journey of faith deepened when God reaffirmed His promise to him in a dream at Bethel, assuring him of divine presence and blessing (Genesis 28:12–15). Over many years of hardship while serving Laban, Jacob learned perseverance and dependence on God rather than on his own schemes (Genesis 31:38–42). A defining moment of Jacob’s faithfulness occurred when he wrestled with God, refusing to let go until he received a blessing, symbolizing his desire for God’s favour above all else (Genesis 32:24–28). Renamed Israel, Jacob emerged transformed, walking in humility and trust. His life demonstrates that faithfulness is not instant but is shaped through endurance, repentance, and a growing reliance on God’s promises.

Rahab – the mother of Boaz

Rahab’s step of faith stands as a powerful example of courage and trust in God despite overwhelming risk. Living in Jericho, Rahab chose to align herself with the God of Israel after hearing of His mighty acts, including the deliverance from Egypt and the defeat of powerful kings (Joshua 2:9–11). When Israelite spies came to her house, Rahab hid them and protected them from the king’s men, placing her life in danger because she believed the Lord was sovereign over heaven and earth (Joshua 2:1–6). Her faith was not merely spoken but demonstrated through decisive action, as she obeyed the instructions given to her and tied the scarlet cord in her window as a sign of trust in God’s promise of salvation (Joshua 2:18–21). If it had been seen by the wrong people it could have cost her and her family’s lives. Rahab’s faith was rewarded when she and her family were spared during the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:22–25). The New Testament affirms her example, declaring that she was justified by works that flowed from faith.

Ruth – the mother of Obed, grandmother of David

Ruth stays with Naomi. Not an Israelite (Moabite). She eventually marries Boaz, who was faithful to the Law.

David part 1 – the shepherd boy.

David’s faithfulness before becoming king is marked by trust in God, obedience, and humility during years of preparation and testing. As a young shepherd, David learned to rely on the Lord while protecting his flock, crediting God for delivering him from the lion and the bear, experiences that shaped his confidence in God’s power (1 Samuel 17:34–37). This faith was displayed publicly when David faced Goliath, declaring that the battle belonged to the Lord and trusting God rather than weapons or armour (1 Samuel 17:46–47).

⁴⁶ This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

That is some serious faith. After being anointed by Samuel, David did not seize the throne by force but faithfully served King Saul because he knew that Saul was God’s anointed. Even as Saul grew jealous and sought his life, David continued to honour him. During his years as a fugitive, David repeatedly refused to harm Saul when given the opportunity, choosing instead to honour God’s anointed and trust God’s timing (1 Samuel 24:4–7; 26:9–11). David’s psalms from this period reveal a heart anchored in prayer, and reliance on God (Psalm 57:1–3). His faithfulness in adversity prepared him to rule with humility, dependence on God, and a deep awareness that leadership is entrusted by God, not achieved through ambition or revenge.

We see how through the faithfulness of these people how the nation of Israel was founded and how it prospered.

So let’s look at the next block, From David to the exile.

I’m not going to go into to too much detail because this is not meant to be a history lesson. There isn’t a lot of faith to talk about here. After he became king, David became unfaithful as shown by his affair with Bathsheba and orchestrating Uriah’s death in an attempt to keep it hidden.

Solomon started well but eventually succumbed to his own success and even building alters to his wives’ gods.

The next run of kings were also lacking in faith with the exception of a couple such as Hezekiah.
He turned the nation back to God and Israel prospered but this didn’t last.

Eventually the lack of faith of these kings led to exile in Babylon.

Apart from a few faithful people like Daniel, Israel spent the next few hundred years in a bit of a spiritual wilderness.

Which brings us back to Mary and her obedient faith.

Mary didn’t have proof yet—only a promise. But when she obeyed, God confirmed His word.

V41 “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, affirms three powerful truths:

• God’s work in Mary is real
• Mary is blessed because she believed
• God is faithful to fulfil His promises

V45 “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil His promises to her!”

This moment reminds us of Hebrews 11:6:

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

God delights in confirming obedient faith—not always immediately, but always faithfully as we saw with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

We see this pattern throughout Scripture:

• Elijah obeyed, and fire fell (1 Kings 18)
• Peter obeyed, and nets overflowed (Luke 5:5–6)

Obedience places us in the position to witness God’s faithfulness.

Mary responds not with fear, but with worship. What we call The Magnificat is a declaration of praise rooted in Scripture and trust.

V46-47 “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”

Her worship is not the result of answered prayers—it is the response to trusting God’s character.

She worships before the promise is fulfilled.

This is obedient faith and her worship flows from humility:

V48 “For He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.”

God consistently works through the humble:

• Moses, 40 years as a shepherd (Exodus 3)
• David, a youngest son (1 Samuel 16)
• Mary, a teenage girl from Nazareth – nothing to distinguish her before this as anything more than an ordinary girl
• And many others – seems to be a bit of a theme

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

Obedient faith understands this truth:

It’s not about who we are—it’s about who God is.

Mary’s song shifts from personal praise to prophetic declaration.

She proclaims what God does throughout history:

• He shows mercy
• He scatters the proud
• He brings down rulers
• He lifts the humble
• He fills the hungry

Mary’s faith is grounded in God’s unchanging character.

Obedient faith believes that God’s ways are higher than ours:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.” (Isaiah 55:8–9)

Mary closes by anchoring her faith in God’s covenant promises:

“He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful… just as He promised our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” V54-55

Mary understood that God keeps His word.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Obedient faith remembers:

• God has been faithful
• God is faithful
• God will always be faithful

Paul echoes this in the New Testament:

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” (Philippians 1:6)

Faith obeys not because outcomes are guaranteed—but because God’s promises are sure.

Mary didn’t know how everything would turn out.

She only knew who God was.

Faith that obeys says:

“Yes” before clarity

“Trust” before certainty

“Worship” before fulfilment

James tells us plainly:

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)

The question today is not whether we believe in God—but whether we are willing to obey Him.

What is God asking you to do?

Where is He calling you to trust Him?

What step of obedience have you been delaying?

Like Mary, may we say:

“I am the Lord’s servant.” (Luke 1:38)

True faith doesn’t ask “What will this cost me?”

It asks “What is God asking of me?”

I’ll finish with a quote from someone at my last church

Our faithfulness combined with God’s faithfulness leads to greatness for the kingdom.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father,

we come before You acknowledging that true faith does not ask, “What will this cost me?” but instead asks, “What are You asking of me?” Teach our hearts to listen for Your voice above our fears and doubts. Too often we weigh obedience against comfort, yet You call us to trust You completely.

We remember Mary, a young woman who did not fully understand the path ahead, yet humbly said, “I am the Lord’s servant; may it be to me as You have said.” Give us the faith she showed—a faith willing to surrender plans, reputation, and security into Your hands. Help us to respond with the same courage and trust when You call us to step forward.

Lord, shape our hearts to desire Your will above our own. Strengthen us to obey even when the cost is unclear, confident that You are faithful and that Your purposes are always good.

Amen.