Post-script for a Saturday morning

 I woke up this morning continuing to think about Mary and especially the description of her.  In verse 38 of Luke 1, Mary is described as a hand maiden. I looked that word up at (Blue Letter Bible) and grabbed some definitions and hopefully some encouragement for us for this season.

Handmaid: 

 A servant or attendant

One who worships God and submits to Him

One who gives himself up wholly to another's will or dominion

Those who service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men

Preachers and teachers of the gospel

True worshippers

Those who God employs to execute His purposes

One devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interest

When we think of Mary in these terms, we should be encouraged to live a life submitted to our Lord and Savior.  It is ever so much easier to believe that God is who He says He is and that He does what He says He will do if we really, really become handmaids in word and deed. 

Consider verse 38 in Luke 1.  ³⁸And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

As life unfolds this year, let us choose daily to be found in devoted and submitted service unto the Lord, disregarding our own interests so that He can use us to advance His cause.  Then we too can say like Mary, hey, I am the Lord's handmaiden, whatever He says, that's it...that's all.