A Willing Servant

Most Believers consider themselves to be a willing servant of the Lord. To what degree am I willing to serve the Lord? In Luke 1:26-38 we are going to see the willingness of Mary to serve the Lord to the point of losing Joseph and ruining her reputation. Let us examine this passage and determine our degree of willingness to serve the Lord.

In verses 26-27 the Lord communicates with Mary through the Angel Gabriel. He communicates with Believers today by His Holy Spirit and through the fellowship and counsel of other Believers.

In verses 28-29 we are told that Mary was "greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be". Sometimes it is difficult why the Lord, who is holy, would choose to use me in the work of His Kingdom. Yet, He has chosen to do just that with those who are of contrite heart and a humble spirit, Isaiah 57:15.

In verses 30-33 Gabriel reveals to Mary what the Lord is going to do with her. She is going to conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to a child who will be called holy-the Son of God. There are times the Lord works in and through us in ways we do not understand.

In verses 34-37 Mary asks the Lord how He is going to accomplish this task which is humanly impossible. When Timothy was not understanding the Lord's working in him and Paul reminded him that the Lord would give him understanding, 2 Timothy 2:7.

In verse 38 we have Mary's final response to Gabriel, which is ultimately to the Lord.

Behold, I am the servant of the Lord: I am your slave; owned by You

Let it be to me according to your word

Let it be: I do not fully understand what is going on

To me: personal involvement and commitment

According to your word: Your purpose for me

There are times we do not fully understand how the Lord works but we completely trust
Him in all things, Isaiah 55:8-9.

As I stated in the beginning of this lesson, we are willing servants but to what degree am I willing to be obedient to the Lord? Am I willing to obey regardless or just to a certain point? Mary was totally willing to be obedient to the Lord regardless of the consequences in her life. May we all be "A Willing Servant".