According to Your Word

The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary to deliver an amazing message.  

She, a young girl, who was not yet married, would be overshadowed by the power of the Highest and would bear the Son of God. 

This message was amazing at several levels.   

We often romanticize the visit of the angel to Mary while not taking the time to consider the realities of the world she was living in and what it would mean to her in her daily life.  

She would have to live in a society where pregnancy before marriage was shameful and punishable by stoning.  

Yet, in spite of the challenges that she knew she would face, Mary’s response to the message of the angel was one of acceptance and trust.  

“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” 

God calls us to things in this life that others may romanticize but which we understand will present challenges in our daily life. 

It is very important, no matter how much others romanticize the calls on our lives, that we are honest with ourselves about the challenges.  

Then the question becomes not whether or not challenges will come, challenges will come.  

The question becomes how will we respond to the call?  

Will we shy away in fear because of the challenges we know will come?  

Or will we, like Mary, choose the call on our lives with acceptance and trust?  

“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! 

Let it be to me according to your word.”