God sent the angel Gabriel to a betrothed virgin with an astounding message. The news he brought was not only astonishing to Mary but also to the angels above, and though long-awaited, confounding to the people below.

As surprising as the humble arrival of the Messiah was, it fulfilled what Scripture had foretold, right down to the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14). Could Mary ever have imagined she would be the highly favored woman to give birth to the Savior?

Luke tells us the angel’s words greatly troubled her and made her wonder, but Mary had no decision to make. The angel hadn’t asked for her consent; he told her what will be.

You will conceive and give birth to a son,
and you are to call Him Jesus…
the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:31-32).

Mary’s only decision was how she would respond. Would she beg for more time? Fall to the ground in tears? Demand answers and explanations? Her response came from the fullness of her heart, and her words have inspired us ever since:

I am the Lord’s servant… May it be to me as you have said.”

Lord, how will we respond to your pronouncement that the Messiah has come? Our opinion wasn’t asked. Your plans didn’t need to be informed by our weak intellect. You spoke as you did in creation, and the Savior was incarnated, born to live and die in the humility and limitations of human bonds. Will we struggle until we can grasp the unfathomable? Or simply submit to your perfect plan and live?

I am your servant, Lord. I accept the salvation you offer. May it be to me as you have said, providing me life with you now and in eternity.