Saturday, December 22

MARY

Luke 1:26-38

It’s hard to picture somebody being humble about giving birth to the Son of God. I mean, if you were going to have a perfect child who would one day sit at the right hand of God, wouldn’t you want to shout it to the nation? Most women would probably be prideful or boastful about it. Instead, Mary was quiet and humble before the Lord. Mary calls herself the handmaid of the Lord (verse 38), which literally means a female slave.

Mary was about my age, and two thousand years ago, it was normal for girls my age to get married and start families. I’m just sure this isn’t the way Mary had planned on starting hers. Mary was definitely a “nobody” before she was a “virgin with child”. (vs. 35-37) She was just your average, engaged teenager. She most likely planned to have a certain number of kids, and live in a certain town. Maybe she didn’t know what she was going to do with her life, but God did. He had a plan for her just like He does each one of us. Mary was completely willing to abandon all her own plans and submit herself to God’s will for her life. “Let it be unto me according to your word,” was Mary’s response to the angel before he left her.

Mary, knowing there was no way she could explain this to Joseph and expect him to understand, relied on God to “break the news” to Joseph. She trusted God with her life knowing that she could be stoned for adultery, or, at the very least, bring shame to her father’s household. God revealed to Joseph in a dream that the child that Mary was carrying was of the Holy Spirit. So, by the grace of God, both Mary and Joseph accepted God’s offer with very humble hearts. A few weeks ago, our young people’s Bible Study and prayer time included a word association led by the teacher. Each one said a word and the next person said the very first thing that came to mind. The spiritual point was that there wasn’t time to think it out or plan what you were going to say. What a lesson for Mary and Joseph—would humility and surrender be their immediate responses, without arguing or complaining? Good point, huh?

Mary expresses her humility in her song (Luke 1:46-56). In verse 47, she calls God her Savior and realizes that she is a sinner and recognizes her need for salvation. She praises God for the great things He has done, and she also sings of those who He helps, such as the lowly (including herself) (vs. 52), the hungry (vs.53), and those who fear Him (vs. 50).

So, do you have a humble attitude of the heart this Christmas and Advent season or are you still hardened to God’s mercy and grace that was given to you two thousand years ago? Either way, you’ll hear these words throughout this devotional book (whether God is speaking them to your heart or they’re printed in black and white): Seek Jesus! Submit yourself to His will for your life forever. He is the only way!

~ Nicole Ellis