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Consider God’s choice of Mary as the mother of His Son. Mary was young and probably not from a prominent or wealthy family. The Bible doesn’t give any details about her physical appearance or information about her father and mother. We are not told of any outstanding characteristics Mary had… except of her love for God and her deep trust in Him.
We read in Luke 1 and 2 about Mary’s selection, submission, salutation, sorrow, and salvation.
Mary was a teenage maiden betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. Why was she selected to give birth to Christ? Her humility, gentle and quiet spirit, and piety give some indication. In God’s perfect timing, the angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced that she would bear the long- expected Messiah.
What’s amazing is the way Mary received the news. Neither skeptical nor hesitant, she only asked an intelligent question of Gabriel: How could she, a virgin, become the mother of Jesus? Following Gabriel’s explanation that she would conceive of God’s Spirit, Mary said with complete faith, “Behold the maidservant of the LORD! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
Mary traveled south to visit her relative Elizabeth, who was also expecting a baby. To Mary’s surprise, Elizabeth greeted her with praise for the child in Mary’s womb. Then Mary joyfully worshiped God in song. She quoted many Old Testament passages, revealing that Mary’s heart was saturated with God’s Word.
As God in human flesh, Jesus must have had an awareness of who He was and what He was doing on earth. This awareness gave Mary and Jesus a unique mother-child relationship. When Jesus was left behind in Jerusalem at age twelve, He wasn’t a dependent child. He said, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).
Although favored among women, Mary’s life was a bitter cup of sorrow consumed at Jesus’ crucifixion.
In her famous Magnificat, Mary described God as “my Savior,” acknowledging her need of a Savior. After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Mary identified herself as a believer in Jesus as she gathered with other believers in the upper room in Acts 1:14.
Mary had a heart for God, a heart of love, obedience, and trust. We have in Mary a beautiful example to follow as we seek to obey and trust God in our own lives.
God, thank You for the young woman You chose to bring Your beloved Son into this world. Thank You for her example of love and obedience to You. I know that You can do anything through me if I will obey and trust You. Amen.
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How do I respond when I receive unexpected news or experience troubling treatment?
Do I trust our gracious God to know what is best?
Life may bring sorrow as it did for Mary, but God saw Mary through, and He will do the same for you.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
How did men and women in the Bible accomplish great things for God? There wasn’t any secret formula or bestselling book on success for them. In fact, they were ordinary people like you and me. What made them effective was their willingness to obey God—one decision at a time.
