I Am The Lord’s Servant

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Luke 1:38

Let’s get one thing straight. God didn’t use Mary simply because she was a virgin! In Matthew 25 we were told about the parable of the ten virgins. Although they were all virgins, only the five wise enough to be ready were taken in by the bridegroom. Although the ten ladies were virgins, only five were ready to meet the Lord. God does not use people because of their status or condition (good or bad), rather he uses people because of their willing servant’s heart, and then He uses their status for His purpose. 

When the angel Gabriel visited Mary, he 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.” (Luke 1: 30-33)

First, the angel said that Mary had found favour. Although what Mary found, humanly speaking, did not appear to be a favour, but from God’s perspective it was a great favour. Mary was being given the privilege of bringing forth the Messiah in keeping with Old Testament prophecy, however, this will come at a great cost of being misunderstood, losing her chance at marrying the man of her dreams and she could lose her life (on account of being accused of infidelity). 

On the one hand, Mary understood the significance of the privilege of bringing Jesus into the world for the salvation of her people but she also understood the cost. Yet, she responded by saying  “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

In Israel, there were many virgins but God couldn’t use them simply because they were virgins, God wanted people with servant’s hearts. People who will take no thought for their lives, men and women who would put God first not minding where he leads. God is looking for People who like Peter, can say ‘we’ve tried our best all night but because of your word we will go again’ Men who God can trust and depend on; that no matter what instruction he gives, their response will simply be “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled.”  Are you one?

PRAYER