Luke 1:37-38 “For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”
The Holy Bible: King James Version. Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009. Print.
Perhaps amongst the many faith-filled responses to a calling from the Lord found within the gospels, Mary’s simple expression, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; Be it unto me according to thy word,” is one of the most profound. To be sure, Mary did consider the circumstances: how might she be able to “conceive” and give birth to “the Son of the highest”—having known no man? Yet upon the angel’s encouragement to “Fear not,” she steeled herself according to two simple ideas: 1. She was the Lord’s servant. 2. Let it be according to His word and will.
What a remarkable reminder as we prepare to celebrate our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ during this Christmas season. Like you, I look forward to celebrating with family and friends during this wonderful season of gift-giving and the anticipation and hope of the coming New Year. Yet in all these things, my prayer is that in all humility we each acknowledge that we are but His servants and that our utmost desire is that all things be done according to His word and not our own.
My family would like to wish the Warner Pacific University community, its faculty, staff, students, alumni, supporters, friends and the Church of God community a very blessed Christmas. We rejoice along with you for the continued favor of God upon this institution for the coming year and the many years to come.
God bless every one of us.
