And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me (Luke 1:41-43)?
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the most misunderstood persons in all of the Word of God. She is adored by some, even worshipped by many, and often ignored by others. There is a great deal of confusion about this amazing woman.
If you’re like me, maybe you’ve wondered why God chose Mary to bear His son out of all the Jewish girls in the world. A young teenage girl most likely, she came from a humble background in Nazareth with no status or wealth.
I mean if God really wanted to, He could’ve allowed Jesus to be born to royalty. But in His sovereign plan and by His own free will, God chose Mary to be the one who would help change the world. He didn’t do it because she was so saintly she deserved it. He did it because He willed it.
But as we study the story of Jesus’ birth, we find a woman who loved God and faced an uncertain future with full faith. She worshipped and sang to God for many of the reasons you and I do, even calling Jesus her “Savior” (Luke 1:47).
Yes, Mary was a faithful servant of God. But she was born in the same sin and is saved by the same grace that saves you and me. She is not a mediator to Jesus, and she has no special power in heaven. She is what she is by the grace of God – no more and no less.
I often wonder why God chose me to do what I do, or why God chooses any of us to do what He’s called us to do. And the answer for that is the same as Mary’s. He sees our faith, and He chooses us by His sovereign plan and His divine free will.
In a world today that praises the “self-made” success stories, remember who has given us the ability to even have success. Thank God for how He’s gifted you and the opportunities you’ve been given. He’s Lord over all and deserves the credit for every good thing!
THANK GOD FOR THE GIFTS HE’S GIVEN YOU AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE WORLD FOR HIS NAME!
