“…God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him 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 Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
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. 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. For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant.” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.” - Luke 1:26-38
Mary’s response to the angel has always stood out to me. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Growing up with the King James Version, “Be it unto me according to your word.” The Message paraphrase says it this way: “Yes, I see it all now: I am the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.” (v. 38)
Her response was a resounding “yes”… filled with faith. This year has me meditating on her response with new light. Mary held a posture of Yes, to what the Lord had called her to. There was no meltdown. No kicking and screaming. Simply reverence to God’s plan and God’s ways and God’s timing.
That sure sinks into my heart differently this year - in a good, butt-kicking, way. I want that so desperately to be my response to what God calls me to. Yes, Lord. Let it be as You have said.
When I think of what Mary possibly had swirling through her head in that moment… and the moments that followed….
What will Joseph say?
What will my parents say? Will they believe me?
How will people treat me when they see me pregnant?
I can’t help but think that her faith that God would do what He said He would do, carried her through with confidence to face all the unknowns – believing He would take care of all the details.
May this be our hearts cry today and all our days. A posture of yes, before our Holy and Faithful God. Whatever He asks of us. Whenever and for however long. “May it be as You have said, Lord.”
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