May it be to me as You have said

"Greetings you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28). From these words, Mary's life was changed forever.

The angel unfolds the plan of eternity to this young woman, Mary and her response is: "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said". Mary responds in belief to all that is spoken to her. She had settled all heart issues with God~ she believed Him and trusted God completely.

As a faithful servant, her life would never be the same. The word "servant" is the Greek word for "bondservant" which is one who served because of the love the Master showed and because of the love that he/she had for his/her Master. The bondservant gladly lived in the resources, schedule and property of the Master, since he/she had none of his/her own.

How did Mary get to this place in her heart with the Lord at such a tender age? There must've been an environment in the home that showed her how to love God. She was living a life a communion with God. Oh, that I would be one who is called a bondservant of the Lord~ one who gladly lives in the resources, schedule and property of my Master Jesus!

There are several characteristics we see of Mary in this passage of Luke 1:

1. Faith~ Mary had simple faith to believe that anything is possible with the Lord. Her love for God was bigger than her fears or her questions. Mary counted the cost & willingly gave herself to God. Her response to the angel Gabriel is one of total faith, "May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38). Mary was given the blessing of carrrying the Savior of the world in her womb. What is it that the Lord is asking me to carry? What is HE desiring to conceive in my by His Holy Spirit? Is my love for God bigger than all my fears and questions?


2. Believe God~ Mary believed what God said. In verse 45 Elizabeth confirms Mary's belief, "Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished". Elizabeth has been living with her husband's silence for 6 months because he didn't believe. (Zechariah, whom the angel Gabriel had visited to tell him that Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son, named John the Baptist~ see Luke 1:18-20). Zechariah is living with the consequence of an unbelieving heart. He needed more information~ he wanted details & "proof" from God. Mary had 1 question, "how", since she had never been with a man. To "believe" is the Greek word, "pisteuo" meaning to believe; put one's faith in; trust; with an implication that actions based on this trust will follow. This kind of belief gives God permission to work unhindered in our lives. What kind of faith is working in my heart? When I really believe God, it will be evidenced by the "acts" I do.


3. Responds in Praise~ "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior," Luke 1:46-47. Mary doesn't understand why God has chosen her, a humble young woman, but her heart sings praise to Him. He is her focus. How do I respond when the Lord asks me to do something for His kingdom? Do I boast? Do I focus on me and try to figure out how I will possibly do it? OR, do I surrender in praise to God~ lifting His Name and praising Him? Oh that the Lord would be my focus!


4. Treasured & Pondered~ With all the Glory surrounding the birth of the CHRIST, all the activity and excitement, Mary took it all in. Mary was amazed at the miraculous things that God had done~ they were treasures to her. She didn't talk about what was happening or how God used "her" to bring the Savior upon the earth. She didn't brag about being "chosen" or the "highly favored one". She held this between her and her God. Treasured means to keep or preserve. Mary didn't want to miss anything, paying great attention to every detail of this miracle. "But his mother treasured all these things in her heart," Luke 2:51. Do I ponder and treasure things of the Lord? Are His miracles treasures in my heart? Are there moments & miraculous events in my life that are just between me and Jesus?


5. Trusts God with her whole heart, even when she doesn't understand~ Mary says "yes" to God over and over in her life on earth, concerning her son. She doesn't always understand what is happening, but she believes God is working. Do I trust God even when I don't understand what He is doing? When it looks like He is absent? When my expectations don't line up with my experience?

Mary's response to the Gabriel, at that first encounter was a YES to all that God had for her to accomplish. She didn't know the whole of what that would look like while she walked the earth. She wasn't perfect in fulfilling her plan in the purposes of God, but she said YES. Mary was one who said, "All of me for all of Him"!