Have you ever been falsely accused? Slandered? Or perhaps you’ve been guilty and exposed to public humiliation. We’ve all experienced the embarrassment that comes from being misunderstood. Most of us can relate to the pain of verbal insult. But imagine being accused of a crime punishable by death . . . all because you’ve obeyed God. That was Mary’s situation:

“The angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. . . .' And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word’” (Luke 1:35–38).  

Mary’s pronouncement that she is a servant of the Lord is a most telling statement. By submitting to the Father’s plan, she steps into the role most young Jewish women only dreamed of, but she also embarks on a humbling and difficult journey as her purity and reputation would be called into question. Her life would be changed forever. She would:

• Face rejection by family and friends
• Give birth in the harsh discomfort of a stable
• Deliver her son with only an inexperienced new husband as midwife
• Leave Bethlehem as a fugitive on the run
• Ultimately witness her son’s execution 

Mary’s life was one long symphony of “Yes, Lord” as God’s servant. Humbly she brought her Savior into the world, and painfully she watched Him secure her redemption at the foot of His cross.

What about you? Are you God’s servant? Is He calling you to follow Him on a difficult journey today? What is your response to Him?