Let it be to me according to Your word...

And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." Luke 1:38

I've been reading and re-reading, pondering and reflecting on this brief passage of Scripture from Luke, chapter 1. Mary had just received life-altering news. The angel Gabriel had appeared to her, announcing that she would give birth to Jesus, the Son of God.

Mary's response? "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." Wow.

How often has God asked me to do something for Him and I respond with,

"But, but, but..."

"You don't understand what You're asking, God..."

"Um...could You get someone else?"

Or perhaps the most common for me...

"I don't wanna!"

I'm further awed, inspired, and yes, convicted as I "hear" Mary's song beginning in verse Luke 1:46. You don't hear her ranting and raving at the injustice of it all. You don't hear her lamenting about what her family and friends will think. You don't hear her complaining that God didn't choose someone else. The first words out of her mouth are,

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Double wow.

Mary rejoices in God's grace, confident that this One who has been faithful in the past will be faithful in what He's called her to today.

Oh, that I, like Mary, would be a willing servant of our Lord; that I would joyfully and gladly obey when He speaks to my heart.