by Juan Leer

Created on: January 31, 2011

In my opinion, the best Bible verse for teens is Luke 1:38. It sums up a lot about how we should all live our life in just one single verse. The verse is:

"Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."

This, of course, comes right after the archangel Gabriel tells Mary that she is pregnant with the baby Jesus, even though she has not had any relations. This would certainly be shocking news for anyone to receive! However, Mary, recognizes the divine proclamation, and she responds with, in my opinion, one of the most powerful lines that has ever been uttered by human lips.

Mary is essentially saying this... she doesn't know what happened or how it happened, she doesn't know what the future will look like (after all, nobody will believe her story... and it seems likely based on the circumstances that Joseph would divorce her, which had to be going through her mind at the time). In earthly terms, this could cause her to lose everything - her relationship and her reputation. However, she tells the angel that whatever God wants of her then that is what she shall do, and that is how she shall live her life. No matter the circumstances or the difficulties that she is likely to face, she is ready to take them on if that is God's will for her. Wow!

So how does this apply to our lives? We need to strive to have the same attitude of Mary. In our life we will definitely have hardships and challenges and difficulties, but how many easier will they be to bear if we simply tell God, I am your handmaid, let your will be done to me and let me graciously accept it. Suddenly all of the little troubles that teenagers typically face would go to the wayside, and they would live lives worthy of their call.

This is also relevant to teens because Mary was likely just a teenager herself when Gabriel appeared to her. It is hard enough to imagine an adult Mary being able to accept this from God, but it is even more amazing to think about it when considering that Mary was possibly only about 13 or 14, as was the custom in that day and age. So if teenagers think it is impossible to do the will of God in our age of temptation, they need only to look at Mary for inspiration.

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