I Am the Lord’s Servant
“God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”
Luke 1:26-38 (NLT)
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.”
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Reflection
In today’s verse, we see Mary process through God’s calling. As Mary processes, she experiences three distinct responses: perplexity, doubt, and action.
These same responses exist in our own replies towards God’s calling. As followers, the first two responses come naturally. However, the third response, at times, can be challenging. Let’s break each one down!
Perplexity. After being greeted as “favored woman! The Lord is with you!”” (verse 28), scripture describes Mary as confused and disturbed. She was likely wondering why a lowly girl from Nazareth should be approached by an angel of our Holy God. In a moment of calling, we might be curious, thinking “that would be cool!” or possibly “why me?” Mary’s favor from God was not due to her own merits but was an expression of God’s grace. Do not deceive yourself. If Jesus lives in you today, you are set apart as a recipient of His favor, with a calling on your life.
Doubt. Upon receiving the news of conceiving the Messiah, Mary asks the obvious question. “But how can this happen? I am a virgin” (verse 34). Like Mary, we’re good at jumping to the obvious to disqualify ourselves. The obvious can be an array of sorts-your past, your current priorities, personal challenges, social influences, money, sense of commitment, comfort, goals and ambitions, and the list goes on. However, it is important to remember that God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. We should surrender our limited understanding of God’s plan in favor of trusting His power to accomplish a good work in us.
Action. It’s impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). Our faith is on display through our actions. Notice that Mary’s first two responses are tied to her emotions. Many say emotions govern, and exist for the sake of, our actions. Yet faith positions emotions and actions contrary to one another. It’s okay when our emotions aren’t in line with God’s calling. It’s faith that says, even though I’m perplexed and doubtful, I’m trusting You, God. I know You make good on Your promises. Stamp Mary’s words on your calling and take action: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true” (verse 38).
Action Step
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to recognize the special calling You’ve put on my life. You are bigger than any doubt or unbelief harbored in my emotions. I want to honor You and bring glory to Your name through acting faithful wherever You call me. Put my trust in Your plans above anything, seen or unseen. In Your Holy Name, amen.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.”
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Reflection
In today’s verse, we see Mary process through God’s calling. As Mary processes, she experiences three distinct responses: perplexity, doubt, and action.
These same responses exist in our own replies towards God’s calling. As followers, the first two responses come naturally. However, the third response, at times, can be challenging. Let’s break each one down!
Perplexity. After being greeted as “favored woman! The Lord is with you!”” (verse 28), scripture describes Mary as confused and disturbed. She was likely wondering why a lowly girl from Nazareth should be approached by an angel of our Holy God. In a moment of calling, we might be curious, thinking “that would be cool!” or possibly “why me?” Mary’s favor from God was not due to her own merits but was an expression of God’s grace. Do not deceive yourself. If Jesus lives in you today, you are set apart as a recipient of His favor, with a calling on your life.
Doubt. Upon receiving the news of conceiving the Messiah, Mary asks the obvious question. “But how can this happen? I am a virgin” (verse 34). Like Mary, we’re good at jumping to the obvious to disqualify ourselves. The obvious can be an array of sorts-your past, your current priorities, personal challenges, social influences, money, sense of commitment, comfort, goals and ambitions, and the list goes on. However, it is important to remember that God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. We should surrender our limited understanding of God’s plan in favor of trusting His power to accomplish a good work in us.
Action. It’s impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). Our faith is on display through our actions. Notice that Mary’s first two responses are tied to her emotions. Many say emotions govern, and exist for the sake of, our actions. Yet faith positions emotions and actions contrary to one another. It’s okay when our emotions aren’t in line with God’s calling. It’s faith that says, even though I’m perplexed and doubtful, I’m trusting You, God. I know You make good on Your promises. Stamp Mary’s words on your calling and take action: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true” (verse 38).
Action Step
- Take your “Action” step. Whatever God is calling you towards, regardless of any doubtful emotions, take a faith step toward that calling.
- Listen to the song “Homeward” by Benjamin William Hastings.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to recognize the special calling You’ve put on my life. You are bigger than any doubt or unbelief harbored in my emotions. I want to honor You and bring glory to Your name through acting faithful wherever You call me. Put my trust in Your plans above anything, seen or unseen. In Your Holy Name, amen.
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