Posted: 15 Dec 2010 04:46 AM PST
Monday I wrote about Joseph's part in the Christmas story, and how he was willing to sacrifice his reputation for Christ. Today, I want to share my insights regarding Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Mary was a wonderful woman. Among all the wonderful characteristics of Mary, the one that stands out to me the most when I think about giving a gift to God, is that Mary had a heart that was ready to say “yes” to anything God asked. And God knew that.
God sent an angel to give Mary the good news that she was highly favored. We read the account in Luke 1:30-38:
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
Mary’s answer reflects a heart that was already submitted and in agreement to whatever God would ask of her. God knew the trials His beloved Son would face, and God had to choose a woman who wasn’t going to flake out on Him! God had to choose a woman strong enough to endure what Mary was going to endure as a mother. I believe He chose the best mother on the planet at that time. Wouldn’t you?
I imagine God had a list of requirements for the mother of Jesus. She had to be a woman of great character,
• a woman committed to personal righteousness,
• a woman humble enough to put God’s wishes first,
• a woman who would faithfully raise her son and teach Him about God,
• a woman who wouldn’t fall apart at the first sign of trouble,
• a woman who would stand by Jesus when He was falsely accused of heresy,
• a woman who wouldn’t shrink away when her son was beaten and forced to carry a cross through the streets with people spitting at Him,
• and, the woman who would raise God’s Son must be willing to let Him die so that the world would be saved.
God knew that Mary had the character and fortitude to say “yes” to all He would ask.
When I think about God choosing Mary among all the women in the world, I wonder if He does the same today. When He has a great assignment does He look among all His daughters to see which one has the resoluteness to carry it out? Which one will say "yes" then do what she says?
Mary's story prompts me to be more like that: trustworthy, determined, unflappably devoted.
I hope it does the same for you.
God sent an angel to give Mary the good news that she was highly favored. We read the account in Luke 1:30-38:
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
Mary doesn’t argue or complain. She does have a technical question, but what woman wouldn’t?
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."
Mary’s answer reflects a heart that was already submitted and in agreement to whatever God would ask of her. God knew the trials His beloved Son would face, and God had to choose a woman who wasn’t going to flake out on Him! God had to choose a woman strong enough to endure what Mary was going to endure as a mother. I believe He chose the best mother on the planet at that time. Wouldn’t you?
I imagine God had a list of requirements for the mother of Jesus. She had to be a woman of great character,
• a woman committed to personal righteousness,
• a woman humble enough to put God’s wishes first,
• a woman who would faithfully raise her son and teach Him about God,
• a woman who wouldn’t fall apart at the first sign of trouble,
• a woman who would stand by Jesus when He was falsely accused of heresy,
• a woman who wouldn’t shrink away when her son was beaten and forced to carry a cross through the streets with people spitting at Him,
• and, the woman who would raise God’s Son must be willing to let Him die so that the world would be saved.
God knew that Mary had the character and fortitude to say “yes” to all He would ask.
When I think about God choosing Mary among all the women in the world, I wonder if He does the same today. When He has a great assignment does He look among all His daughters to see which one has the resoluteness to carry it out? Which one will say "yes" then do what she says?
Mary's story prompts me to be more like that: trustworthy, determined, unflappably devoted.
I hope it does the same for you.
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