Saying yes to God is one of the bravest things we can do.
“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”Luke 1:38 (KJV)
What does “Surrender” mean in Luke 1:38?
Handmaid translates the Greek doule, a female servant who belongs to her master. Mary calls herself the Lord's servant and welcomes what He has said.
Going deeper
Mary had questions, and she asked them. She wondered how what the angel said could be true. Then, having heard the answer, she gave hers: be it unto me according to thy word. She had no assurance of how things would go. Her yes would cost her reputation and her plans, and she gave it anyway. The verse ends quietly: the angel departed from her, and she was left to live it out.
Surrender in the Bible does not mean passivity. Mary soon set out to visit her relative Elizabeth. Trust and action go together. Advent invites us to consider our own yes. Is there something God has been asking of you that you have been putting off? It could be forgiveness, generosity, a change of direction, or a step of service. You do not have to see the whole path. Like Mary, you can say yes to the next step and trust Him with the rest.
Reflect
What is God asking of you that you have been putting off, and what is the next small step?
Pray
Lord, I want to say yes to You as Mary did. Show me the next step, and give me the trust to take it. In Jesus' name, amen.
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