LUKE 1:26-38 – In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

THEME OF THE DAY. CHRISTIANITY ACCORDING TO MARY. How would we react if the angel Gabriel appeared to us one night and said, “Greetings. The Lord is with you. Don’t be afraid. He is going to use you for His glory and purposes with something that is humanly impossible, makes no earthly sense, and will change the world.” Well, some of us, like me, may say, “I need more details. Give me the full plan. I am confused. How about some concrete clarification here?” Then, others, would respond in complete unbelief due to the irrational nature of what Gabriel revealed. These people would chock-up the whole thing as a dream caused by a late dinner not setting well. But some would be like Mary – “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your Word.” And that friends, is a perfect illustration of Christianity according to Mary. Let’s notice two things about her response that points us to living the Christian life as God would have us.

First, Mary understood her relationship and role with the Lord – “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord.” Here is a truth about servants. They don’t require anything more than what their Master tells, shows and provides for them. They know He is the one in charge and servants are content with that, even if their understanding is vague.

Next, Mary submits to the Word of God without question – “Let it be to me according to Your Word.” Here is the highest expression of God-honoring faith. It says, “Lord, this is really confusing and I don’t get it, but You said it, I believe it, and I submit to it.” That is what God requires of us. The total abandonment of ourselves – mind, heart and will – to His Word. He gives it to us, not to have comprehensive understanding before we submit and obey it, but to be child-like, Mary-like, in accepting it as it is – the Word of God. We will go a long way maturing in Christ if we stop trying to figure out what and why God is doing what He is in our lives, and simply submit to Him and His Word in child-like trust and obedience. Just like Mary.

May the Lord Himself, help us to live Christianity according to Mary.

PRAYER: “Father, help me be child-like in trusting Your Word without needing everything figured out.”

QUOTE: “God does not require we understand His ways, but to trust His ways.”