“In the sixth month, 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 be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.’ ’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.”
(Luke 1:26-31 and 38)
The actual words that Mary said in verse 38 was much greater than that of a servant. Mary’s response to God’s call to follow was actually…“I am the Lord’s Slave”.
Mary knew that for it to be as the Angel had said, that she was to be rejected by her people, subject to great accusation and possibly even killed. She knew that she would be considered adulterous, and in her time this was of great shame and could have resulted in her being stoned.
Mary risked it all to follow God’s will as she didn’t even consider her comfort or control but gave it all to God as His slave.
This defined her obedience all the way through the pregnancy, the birth of Jesus and beyond. Back in the time that Jesus was born, there were no epidurals, adjustable beds, and no teams of professionals. There was family and a midwife and this took place in the family home.
Mary didn’t even have those comforts. She was away from home and her family. She had no midwife or bed. Mary followed God’s will to a stable...stinky animals...and nobody there but her husband. But God was there and He blessed it! He affirmed her and blessed her through what the shepherds told her when they shared about the Angels appearing to them.
Mary gave up comfort in her life to follow God. Mary gave up control of her life to carry out the plans God laid before her. God did miraculous things through His Spirit in Mary—she was a follower.
For those of us who truly choose to follow Jesus in all things, we will at times have to forgo our comfort and control. We will have to suffer through trials and hardship for our faith. We will be rejected, offended, picked over and ridiculed. As Mary experienced, God is greater than all the pain and sacrifice He has asked of us as His followers. Our God is worth it.