According to Rules
By Marlene Houk
Burke County
Luke 1:38 “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”
I am an accountant, and we work according to the principles of accounting. For example, a critical rule states that debits and credits in a transaction must be equal. When I worked in an accounting lab, I developed a resource to simplify the process as I helped students understand their courses. Often, after 15 minutes, the student would murmur, “Why did I make this so hard?” By following the textbook, they gained the confidence to enter transactions, reconcile statements, and prepare financial statements. But, they would stumble and mislead people by offering false information if they did not work according to established accounting principles.
Many times, like the students, I’ve ignored biblical principles in life’s troubles which resulted in unbridled emotions and overreactions. Mary, the mother of Jesus, shows us a life-changing formula that brings peace and closure. When the angel Gabriel announced the upcoming birth of Jesus through Mary in Luke 1:38, she responded by using this biblical principle, saying, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.”
I looked up the phrase, according to, and discovered it occurs 641 times in the Bible (KJV). As is typical in Bible research I found the early stories in the Old Testament showcased the words in stories. Immersing myself in the grand majestic chronicles in the Bible that included this term helped me to understand it in context. In the story of Noah and the ark (Genesis 6:22), Noah “did according to all that God commanded him” carrying the idea of obedience to God’s Word. In the building of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, Moses did “according to all that the Lord commanded him” as declared in Exodus 40:16, including the idea of consistency over a period of time. The Author helped me to understand this phrase by placing it in context in dramatic stories.
Rather than using my own reasoning in life’s circumstances, I simply need to—like Mary—bow to the often mysterious will of God for my life and agree with Him that I want my life to be, according to thy word.
How do we change our lives to be according to thy word? Often, the Bible teaches us to simply follow the pattern of other godly people. Using the idea of following godly people, let’s look at people God placed in Mary’s life who lived their lives according to. Who were they?
- Zacharias in Luke 1:9 performed his duties of burning incense in the temple, “according to the custom of the priest’s office.”
- Joseph, Mary’s husband helped her accomplish her days of purification according to the law of Moses and provided the sacrifice of birds according to the law (Luke 2:22, 24).
- Simeon, a devout man, was led by the Spirit into the temple at the same time Mary and Joseph presented the baby Jesus. He said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;” (Luke 2:29).
Mary could follow those around her who lived according to the word of the Lord.
In following Mary’s example, we can consider tracking religious leaders who follow God according to His Word. We can observe godly family members who desire to serve the Lord by conforming according to the Bible. And we can look for “just and devout” people whom Jesus allows our paths to cross with, like Simeon, who eagerly anticipate aligning themselves according to God’s will for their lives.
Let’s follow Mary’s example by submitting to the Lord and allowing our lives to be according to His plans for us. And then relax in the knowledge that God controls the debits and credits of our lives. No matter if our checking accounts are debited (increased) or credited (decreased), we can still rest securely in saying, let our lives be according to the word of the Lord. Conversely, when the liabilities of life pile up (credits), we can still enjoy hope because we have committed to the according to principles like Mary, the mother of Jesus.
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Marlene is an author and teacher of Bible studies. She may be reached at Biblelady167@gmail.com
To receive helpful insight from the Bible, sign up for her newsletter at http://www.MarleneHouk.com, or connect with her on other social media. You can read more good Christian News from Marlene HERE.
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Blue Ridge Christian News covers Avery County, Burke County, McDowell County, Mitchell County, Yancey County, and Madison County in North Carolina, and Christian news from around the country.
