"Then Mary said, 'Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her." Luke 1:38

When the angel Gabriel comes to Mary with the news that she will conceive the child Jesus she refers to herself as a servant, in many of the Bible translations that we have available. But, the word "servant" would actually be better translated as "slave". The word "slave" in those days just like now was not a good term. It referred to someone who had no rights, someone who was under the authority of another. Yet, Mary does not use the term in anguish but in humility. Mary rejoiced as a humble servant of the Lord, who was highly favored by the Lord.

"Humility" much like the word "servant" is not a term that attracts many people. On the other hand the term "favor of God" gets many excited. But the truth is we cannot have the favor of God without humility. The Bible says that "God resists the proud but He gives grace to the humble".   We are servants of the Lord, servants who are dearly loved by our Master, and hopeful servants who are returning that love to the same Master. We are to serve in humility of spirit, for our Master demonstrated the ultimate humility when He became obedient to the death of the cross. Serve the Lord daily in humility, and God's favor will continually abide in your life, and Jesus will continually be exalted in your life.

"By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life." Proverbs 22:4