Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her. Luke 1:38
One of the chief signs of love is sacrifice. When we love someone, we are willing to sacrifice for them. When God tasked Mary with being the mother of Jesus, Mary could have made one million logical excuses. This task would uproot and change her life. But, instead of arguing or refusing, Mary was willing to sacrifice. She set aside her plans for something greater: God's plans for sending Jesus to overcome sin and death.
Mary's response when the angel Gabriel told her that she would give birth to Jesus in Luke 1 was incredible. This announcement that she would become pregnant and give birth to the Savior of the world was world-changing. It would also have a cost for Mary. She would risk her reputation and future plans. In response to Gabriel's message, Mary could have protested. She could have said, "I am not prepared," or "People will not understand and judge me, or worse," or "Pick someone else." Instead, she said, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true" (verse 38). She was ready and willing to carry out this incredible task. Why? She knew her position: she was God's servant. That meant she was willing to do whatever He required, even when being a servant meant sacrificing her reputation and plans. Being a servant, after all, requires sacrifice.
The best example of sacrifice was Jesus. Paul described Jesus' sacrifice in Philippians 2. In this passage of Scripture, he explained that although Jesus was God, He "gave up His divine privileges; he took a humble position of a slave and was born as a human being" (verse 7). Even more, Jesus "humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross" (verse 8). Jesus sacrificed Heaven and endured a brutal death so we could have a relationship with Him and be freed from sin and death.
If Jesus became a servant and gave up His very life, we, too, must follow His example and live the lives of servants. Yes, this requires sacrifice, but rewards for our sacrifice and obedience are far greater than anything we sacrifice to obey and serve Him.
Is there anything God has called you to sacrifice and let go of, yet you have hesitated to make the sacrifice? What has held you back? I urge you today to make the sacrifice He has called you to let go of. The reward for obeying Christ is far greater than anything He has called you to let go of.
Going Deeper - Philippians 2:1-11
" Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
3 Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.When he appeared in human form,8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
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