I heard recently about a small boy who was praying to God about a bike he wanted for Christmas he badly wanted. “I’ve been good for a year,” he said. But after a moment’s reflection he thought about all the things he did that were wrong. Then, he began his prayer again, “I’ve been good for the past month,” he said. But he remembered a few things he did to his sister. “I’ve been good this whole week,” he said. But then he remembered how he treated his little brother. “I’ve been good all day,” he said. But then he remembered how he talked to his mom that morning. He suddenly got up and went to the living room to the little nativity scene that had the figures of Mary and Joseph. He picked up the figure of Mary and went back to his prayer and started again: “If you ever want to see your mom again…!”
As the mother of Jesus, Mary is better known than any other woman in world history and has held a place of highest honor since those days of the manger in Bethlehem. But what was her life like? Who was she really?
Mary lived in a small town called Nazareth . When Gabriel appears to Mary, she is probably about 14 or 15 years old. She is betrothed to Joseph, the contract being as solemn and as binding as marriage itself. According to the text, she has maintained her sexual purity, as well as her spiritual purity. She is living close to the Lord and is living a good life before the Lord. Mary probably had her life all planned out and things were going well. A bright future is awaiting her; she has everything for which to live. When Gabriel makes His announcement to Mary, her life is immediately turned upside down. Mary is called upon to bear shame, reproach and humiliation for the glory of God. Hers is to be the greatest honor ever afforded to woman, but at the same time it carried with it a tremendous social disgrace.
Often, God will allow things to happen in your life and mine that are hard to bear and hard to understand, yet the Lord sends them our way so that we might grow in Him and come to know Him in a better way. When these times arise, it is easy to question the Lord and His judgment. It is always easy to question but it is far nobler to comply with the Lord.
Luke 1 gives us a glimpse into the character of Mary. Here a few things we can pick up from Scripture.
A. Faithful – Luke 1:27
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
We are told that the angel came to “a virgin.” The word used refers to a female that is sexually pure. The vessel God chose to use to bring His Son into this world was a perfectly pure vessel.
B. Submissive – 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.
Despite the shame that would come her way, despite the humiliation she would bear, Mary was willing to submit her life to the will of the Lord. By doing so, she has set an example of obedience and surrender that every child of God should follow.
C. Godly – Luke 1:46-55
Mary expresses her personal praise to the Lord for His blessings to her own life. She praises God for:
Her salvation (v. 47)
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Her personal blessings (v. 48-49)
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Corporate Blessings (v. 50)
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
God’s Faithfulness (v. 54-55).
He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
In doing so, she sets an example that every Christian should seek to follow.
The message of Mary’s story is this: you may at times find yourself in difficult situations, but if you will surrender yourself to God and will allow Him to write the script for your story, you will have a blessed life – just like Mary.
With that in mind, do you have the same heart that dwelled in Mary? Are you in a personal relationship with God today? Are you in such a position in your walk with the Lord where you can truly celebrate Him this Christmas? Is there a need for you to come to Him and meet Him on a personal basis? Is there a need for you to come to Him and make some things right with Him? Is there a need in your heart to just come and bow before Him and worship Him? Whatever your need may be, please come to Him and let Him have His way in your life.
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