“I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:38 HCSB
In Biblical times an unmarried girl who became pregnant faced a difficult time. Since Mary was engaged to Joseph and engagement was considered to be the equivalent of being married, she could have been stoned to death for being unfaithful to her husband to be. Additionally she could have faced being rejected by her fiance and possibly by her own father, which would have forced her into begging or prostitution in order to be self-supporting. More than likely she would have faced a lifetime of being unmarried. Telling others that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit would have undoubtedly brought ridicule and rejection from others. Even though Mary faced all of these potential trials, she willingly submitted to become a slave of the Lord and to carry out His plan.
Slavery is usually considered to be an inhumane condition that carries a negative connotation, but in this verse Mary willingly stated that she was the “Lord’s slave.” She was willing to humble herself and be obedient to God’s plan for her life even if it meant severe hardship. Many times obedience to God’s will for our lives can cause us to sacrifice and experience hardship. God is always faithful and will bring good out of the trials we encounter.
Challenge: Be willing to humble yourself and submit to God’s plan for your life. Praise God for the opportunity to be His slave and to serve Him. Be willing to do whatever will bring honor and glory to God’s kingdom.