A Handmaid's Faith

Behold, the Handmaid of the Lord

I wanted to use a New Testament example of faith this week. There is really no greater example of a woman of faith, in the Old or New Testament, than that of our Saviour’s mother. Mary has perplexed me for years now. I have tried to imagine what it was like to be Mary and I just cannot do it. I look forward to meeting her in eternity.
Abigail and Esther are exciting to read about. I can comprehend their decisions, understand their actions, and even imagine what it would have been like to be them. Mary, on the other hand, is altogether different. When I read about Mary (there is not a whole lot to read) I sit in reverence. Not because Mary was holy and perfect, she was not. Mary was a woman born of flesh and blood with a sin nature just like you and me.
Physically speaking her life was not the least bit exciting. Mary was poor in the eyes of her world, but had riches overflowing in the eyes of her God. She was unimportant and overlooked by those who past her by, but counted worthy to be the mother of the Saviour by her Heavenly Father. Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her; and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Have you ever asked yourself just how did Mary find favour with God? Why was she blessed among women?
The angle Gabriel was sent to Mary and tells her (Luke 1:26-38) she has been chosen as the mother of God’s son. Verses 29-30 “…she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.” She does not ask him for details, she does not run away, she does not start weeping uncontrollably, and she does not bombard him with questions. Mary sits quietly and listens to the Messenger of the Lord. The only question Mary does ask is a pertinent one. “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” Mary’s question and the angel’s answer are recorded for the world to know that the prophecy of the virgin birth has been fulfilled.
When the angel is finished and has told Mary all that shall be done to her, what is her response? “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid (maidservant) of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” I have spent a lot of time just reading this one passage. Mary’s life has just been turned upside down, sideways three times and upside down again. Joseph could leave her pregnant and unmarried. If her father refused to take her in after Joseph rejected her she would be on the streets. No other man would have ever married her after these circumstances and what does Mary say? “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.” Even when the outcome seems to be an absolute disaster, Mary, the servant of the Lord, just wants to serve Him.
I have that verse highlighted in my Bible and I look at it often. I marvel at Mary’s faith in our Lord. There are days the Lord asks so little of me, and I am unwilling to serve him. When Mary said “be it unto me according to thy word” she meant it. For the rest of Mary’s life she proved that she meant what she said. I believe this is how Mary found favour with her God and this is why she was blessed among women. Mary believed when the angel said: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” She believed enough that no matter what came her way she stayed her course and served Him. No matter what it cost her, she continued to serve him. The Lord knew Mary would not say no to Him and Mary had faith in her Lord.