Mary Did You Know? (1/2)

Luke 1:26-56 - God grants favor to Mary to become the mother of Jesus, because He finds in Mary, a faithful obedient heart. If I had only one opportunity to share a story about faith and obedience, I would be inclined to share the Story of Mary and start off with the words, "Mary, did you know?" Not only is this passage of scripture penned into one of my favorite Christmas songs, the Story of Mary is simply put miraculous on all accounts. Is there any other example in history of a young virgin with God's only child? Mary is given the honor and title as the mother of Jesus not because of her social status, good looks, or even heritage. Although, the Bible prophecies that the birth of Jesus would come from King David's line and would be born in Bethlehem, I am quite certain there were other young virgins who could have been eligible. What makes Mary different from all other youths was her missional heart filled with faith and obedience. In the first chapter of Luke, a story of the birth of Jesus unfolds with the central character who is Mary, a young virgin pledged to be married to Joseph. She was most likely only a teen in our modern age definition, but in Bible times she was a young woman ready to be married. When the angel of the Lord, Gabriel, appears to Mary, the first words that the angel says are, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son..." Mary asks a straightforward question about how could it be possible to give birth knowing she is a virgin. However, the key point, I focus on in this passage is when Mary give her final reply to Gabriel, "I am the Lord's servant... (Part 1 of 2)