[Pastor Ralph]

Q4. (Luke 1:38) What is the essence of Mary's positive response to the angel? What can we learn from her response for our own lives? In what sense was Mary's response an "informed consent"? When we respond to God, what do we consent to?

[UncleBlake]

Q4. (Luke 1:38) What is the essence of Mary's positive response to the angel? What can we learn from her response for our own lives? In what sense was Mary's response an "informed consent"? When we respond to God, what do we consent to?

I believe Mary's reponse to Gabriel is one of total submission to the will of God! How could it be anything other than that?! As was stated in the text, here Mary was, a peasant girl, certainly not used to visitation by an Angelic creature, let alone one who stands in the presents of the Most High God...I am sure that at that very moment she may not have even understood that very fact. Imagine the utter shock and surprise. Not to mention when Gabriel told her all of the things he did, Mary certainly must have been quite overwhelmed. The Bible doesn't say precisely what her upbringing was like, however, we have a pretty good idea that because of the times, customs etc, she was probably raised to do what she was told, especially when it was God doing the telling, and she certainly wasn't going to question an Angel from God. She indeed was going to submit herself to the will of the Most High God, and do what ever He wanted her to do, feeling very, very blessed to be chosen by God to carry out His plan. God will provide for what ever circumstances may arise. She knew that. If we only respond to God's will with the same trust and faith that Mary did, we soon realize God's Sovreignty as well. God is in control, He will never fail.

[Elwood C O'Dell]

Mary’s response was one of total submission to God’s will for her life. It is the very thing that God expects of each of us who are his children. Mary knew the possible ramifications of such of decision but for her God’s will in her life out weighed everything else. She was willing for Him to have absolute control of every aspect and area of her life. When we respond to God in a manner like Mary we openly submit to his having absolute control, knowing and trusting that He knows what is best and that He knows what He is doing.

[Cheryl]

Mary's response is one of humble submission to whatever God has planned for her. We can learn to be like her in allowing God to be the master and submitting to his rule in our lives. When we respond to God we consent to living as He would have us live, to obedience to what He wants us to do, to set aside our personal desires and take up His goals and plans for our lives.

[Sherylle Ladner]

Q4. (Luke 1:38) What is the essence of Mary's positive response to the angel? What can we learn from her response for our own lives? In what sense was Mary's response an "informed consent"? When we respond to God, what do we consent to?

Mary accepted what God was doing not for her but for the rest of us. We can learn from that Mary if that God calls us we must go and do what He has asked us to do. The response that Mary gave was a "informed consent," and like I said, "When God calls, as Christians, we must make the response or denied God forever.

[Beach]

Mary was at a point of submission to God, not in word only but in deed. It's easy as Christians today to say I will submit to God, but when push comes to shove, am I willing to deny my will and allow God to have his plan in my life? Our response to God is full surrender even in our lack of understanding, believing as Robert T. Ketcham said, "Your heavenly Father is too good to be unkind and to wise to make mistakes."

[les]

at great risk to herself mary accepted Gods will for her life at that time a pregnancy out of wedlock was punishable by death yet mary trusted God to do what He proposd for her and to protect her . to submit and be willing inspite of great danger and inconvenience to herself was trully remarkable .she had a trully submisssive and accepting heart open to Gods will at any cost

[James in Ohio]

When the Lord comes to us, as he has in different ways, we are to exhault and praise it. We, as Christians, have a great example of acceptance here. The event is a foreshadowing of our experience in acceptance of Christ, as Mary accepted her role sith dignity and respect.

[James in Ohio]

Also, there will be perilous times to come for all christiandom. The roman persecution, the end times where we will be persecuted for submitting to God through Jesus Christ. This lends us a great example (like many in the bible) of how we know it will be a dangerous trek, but the end of the trek is everlasting life...take the blessing and RUN WITH IT!

[Karen D]

Q4. (Luke 1:38) What is the essence of Mary's positive response to the angel? What can we learn from her response for our own lives? In what sense was Mary's response an "informed consent"? When we respond to God, what do we consent to?

I am blown away by Mary's willingness and obedience to Gabriel's message. Here is a young teenager, accepting this role all the while knowing she could be rejected or punished for having Jesus out of wedlock.
Without hesitation, she submits to God, I pray I have the courage and faith she displayed.

[Bro Steven]

Mary submitted herself to God.

We should take what Mary did and submitt ourselves unto God not in word only but in deed.

She gave an informed consent due th the fact that the angel told her exactly what would happen and she said be it unto me according to thy word.

If we commit ourselves to God then we should tell God do it unto me as you will.

[laurie tait]

his will be done, follow and obey his words,so his will be done here on earth, we are committing our lives to God

[nes]

= Mary's response to the Angel is her willingness to submit humbly to the will of God.

= We should response to God as Mary did. Yielding, submitting humbly to God's will.

= Whatever the words tell's us, we must said be unto me according to your word. but we must do our part, we must put it unto practice. as James said "faith is dead w/out deeds".

= If we response to God's command, we must not forgot that we are His servant, always ask His will be done.

[davidjjj]

Q4. (Luke 1:38) What is the essence of Mary's positive response to the angel?

I think the essence is- that she viewed her life as belonging to God. The word servant (doule is the feminine version of the male doulos) can be translated slave or Bond-servant. Aristotle spoke of a doulos as merely being a human tool, that of course is the Greek view and the Hebrew view of a bond servant was something a bit different, after 7 years a Bondservant choose either freedom or to servant their master permanently (because they loved serving that master and had found kindness-for the whole picture see Deut 15ff) anyhow Mary saw her self as God’s and in a sense prayed in a similar way to what Her Son would in the garden some 30 years later- that God’s will be done

What can we learn from her response for our own lives?

To have an attitude that embraces the will of God, even when it is costly

In what sense was Mary's response an "informed consent"?

Mary would have to pick up “the tab” for God’s will. She would have to carry this child, face the ridicule and scorn- and lasting stigma. Any parent knows that being a parent is costly- it’s not just birth… your in for a long haul! Supporting and caring for these ones we love so much. And a sword would pierce Mary’s heart one day, watching her Son die, something any parent would dread! Mary in this moment said “yes Lord” to all this.
When we respond to God, what do we consent to?

This has been a great moment for me, this has been a great verse to ponder and we had a challenge on Sunday (from a missionary in Calcutta) concerning loving the unlovely- both victim and perpetrator, this missionary works with sex workers helping them out of that industry (into another) and brokenness and into life with Christ, his challenge was that God grace not only reaches victims but perpetrators (from Luke 15 the prodigal son verse 30- the prodigal son had spent money on prostitutes- i.e. he had been a perpetrator) he shared how hard this was for him (as his heart was with the victims) but how God’s heart and will was to show grace to both.

What I am getting at is this- consenting to God as Lord, Rom 12 stuff (present our bodies/lives as living sacrifices) is costly we need to be prepared for God to lead in His way and when we say yes it is without conditions-ouch! To call Him Lord means to consent to all He desires no matter what the tab!

[Shaz6]

Mary's response was "May it be to me as you have said". That God knows best and we should let him lead our lives instead of trying to do it ourselves. She knew what was going to happenand she knew what people would think but she was willing to do it any way for God. When we respond to God we consent to do as he asks.

[emmaus]

Mary's response was that of a willing servant. She was humble and willing to do as the Lord ask. This is the way we should be.

The angel explained to her how and what would happen and she willingly agreed. When we say yes to God we agree to do things his way, even if we don't understand.

[AngelOnLine]

Q4. (Luke 1:38) What is the essence of Mary's positive response to the angel?
It shows total and absolute submission to the Will of God.

What can we learn from her response for our own lives?
We need to trust God and His decisions for our lives, just as Mary did.

In what sense was Mary's response an "informed consent"?
She gave her consent even though Gabriel told her everything that was going to happen.

When we respond to God, what do we consent to?
We consent to live the way God wants. We submit to His Will for our lives.

[mags]

Mary's positive response to the angel shows her faith and belief in God. She doesn't once doubt and worry about the consequences for her, instead she puts her faith and trust in God. For Mary this was a huge thing and she trusted God, yet we fail to trust Him for even the little things.

Mary's response shows her decision to trust in the Lord and submit her whole life to Him. God has a plan and Mary trusted in His plan for her life.

When we respond to God we are consenting to do His will. To be His servant and do what He requires of us - whether we understand it or not, whether we want to or not To open ourselves to Him!

[katef]

Mary's response is total faith and dedication, before she had time to 'analize' it or 'think it through'. As the lesson said, her cost could have been very great if others didn't have the same faith as her.

Accepting what God gives me when it is not what I was expecting is difficult for me sometimes, and I am working on placing my faith into the fact that God knows better than me. Even if this really isn't the best solution in the short run, it will be in the long run.

Mary's response was 'informed consent' since she could have responded in an unaccepting or doubtful way. She could have denied the risk out of fear or disbelief.

Consenting to God is to take the hand that he deals you, and be greatful. We acknowledge the superiority of his will for us over our sinful nature.

I like the idea of accepting God's will for us as consent, I hadn't thought of it that way before. It reminds me that I have a very active part, but that part isn't always making the decisions.

[aray1967]

Q4. (Luke 1:38) What is the essence of Mary's positive response to the angel? What can we learn from her response for our own lives? In what sense was Mary's response an "informed consent"? When we respond to God, what do we consent to?

What is the essence of Mary's positive response? Faith & Belief

We can learn the wonderful feeling of God's will in our lives. If we don't have faith and don't fully believe, His will may never be known to us.

The angel explained to her what was to happen to her and how it was to happen. Great care was taken in making sure she understood.

What do we consent to? God's will, course.