Mary: Lowly in her own eyes, but seen by God

Mary, the mother of Jesus

Mary must have been a very special young woman. Mary was the one who was chosen to be the mother of Jesus Christ, God’s own Son. She could not have been just anybody. Who was the Virgin Mary?

Mary did not have a big ego, but had full faith and confidence in God’s guidance over her life, even when circumstances seemed unbelievable. Mary can teach us a lot about faith and humility.

An ordinary woman from Nazareth

The young Jewish girl lived quite an ordinary life in Nazareth, a little city in Galilee. Then one day an angel came to her and said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:30. She had been chosen out of all the women in the world to bear God’s Son! She was to name Him Jesus. The angel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and in this way Mary would become the mother of Jesus Christ, God’s own Son.

No matter how unbelievable this sounded according to human thinking, Mary courageously replied, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38. She was full of faith and confidence in God!

“Let it be to me according to Your word!”

We all encounter situations that test our faith. Perhaps I am in a circumstance in which the normal reaction would be anxiety and uneasiness. Then the question is whether I truly believe in God’s perfect guidance, completely let go of all anxious thoughts, and lay hold of the scripture that says, “Be anxious for nothing.” Philippians 4:6.  Then we can, in our own way, in our present circumstances, answer, “Behold the servant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to Your word. Take care of me, like You have promised. Now I am casting all my care on You, and I choose to believe.”

Cast all your care upon God: A practical solution that works

There are many other ways we can demonstrate our faith in our ordinary daily lives. When we are prompted to give, even if we may not have so much, we can immediately choose to believe Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you.”  When we would prefer to think about our own comfort, but God instead prompts us quietly in our heart about a family that could really use help, we can hold fast in faith to the scripture that says, “The generous soul will be made rich.” Proverbs 11:25.

What is the result when we choose to trust God’s Word and follow His promptings within us? We experience that God is true! He stands firmly behind His Word, just as He did for Mary who conceived  Jesus, exactly as the Angel had told her.

Mary exalted God, not herself

Mary’s attitude was not complicated.  She had full faith and confidence in God, but was lowly in her own eyes.  After the angel left her, she magnified God who had regarded her lowly state and entrusted her with this great task.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.” Luke 1:46-50.

Mary shows us that those who are small and poor in their own eyes are valuable to God, and He cares about them. All He is looking for is faith! Mary was neither a queen nor nobility; nevertheless God chose her. Throughout her life she had shown that she regarded God as everything and herself as nothing. This is the kind of person God wants to use!  He saw Mary’s humble attitude, and she became the mother of Jesus. She had the right attitude.

A faith that can become our own

It is said about the virgin Mary, “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:45.

This verse can also be ours. Imagine being able to insert our own name there. It can become reality! But then we must be tried and tested, and be faithful to God’s voice in our daily lives. That is where the foundation of faith is laid. Let us humble ourselves and set aside our own strong will, opinions, and human reasoning. Then God will be able to use us!