I am the Lord’s servant
Yesterday, Jenny beautifully described how Mary was both highly favoured and greatly troubled at the same time when she was visited by the angel Gabriel, who told her she would give birth to the Son of God.
I want to dwell on that bit more.
As Jenny described, Mary’s first response wasn’t wonder, amazement or even a sense of feeling honoured. Her initial reaction was (and I’m paraphrasing), “I smell trouble!” (Luke 1:28-29).
We can learn from the things mentioned in the Bible about Mary that she was a devoted and religious Jew, as was her fiancé, Joseph.
It is therefore very likely that Mary had heard the stories of people whom God had called for specific assignments, such as, for example, the Old Testament prophets. Their stories are often far from heroic or glamorous. Quite the contrary, almost every single person of great significance in the Bible has faced incredible hardship.
- Jeremiah was persecuted so severely that he wished he had never been born (Jeremiah 20:14-18)
- He was later on beaten and imprisoned in a dungeon for a long time (Jeremiah 37:15-16)
- Jonah was thrown overboard during a storm in a raging sea, where he was about to die, but was swallowed up and forced to live inside a fish (Jonah 1)
- Isaiah had to walk around naked for 3 years (Isaiah 20:3)
- Daniel was thrown into a lion’s den (Daniel 6:16)
I can imagine why Mary was “greatly troubled” when an angel appeared with a special message for her.
Even today, I know many great men and women of God who have been used mightily in His Kingdom. Not one of them has had an easy life, free from hardship, but they often faced additional hardships because of their great calling.
Even in my own life, though I’ve been blessed with a great ministry, I have not been spared from hardship. The most recent trial was the passing of our 5-year-old son, Zac.
However, what is even more intriguing than Mary’s initial reaction is her final resolve:
I am the Lord’s servant […] may your word to me be fulfilled. – Luke 1:38 NIV
I desire this always to be my attitude as well. I want to serve God, no matter the cost. What about you?
