Read Luke 1:26-38.

Mary’s deep, abiding relationship with God is truly a model for all of us, young or old, to emulate.

By all accounts Mary didn’t have an easy life. She was a young girl in a society where only men seemed to matter. She was poor and lived in Nazareth, a village that had a reputation for being unremarkable, so she was likewise unremarkable from a worldly perspective. Add to this the fact that when she became supernaturally pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary was not yet married—only betrothed—so she knew her pregnancy would create a terrible scandal that could leave her abandoned, ostracized, or worse—stoned to death.

Yet, because she had a self-image grounded in the God’s Word, she was able to hold her head high—not faking it but trusting in the Lord for her peace. Mary knew the promises God had made to His people in the Old Testament. These were her ancestors, and she shared their hope. So, when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her God had chosen her to be the mother of His Son, she humbled herself and accepted God’s will for her life.

In our celebrity-crazed culture, people adore the so-called “important people.” But God uses the humble and unknown. He seeks out and calls those with a contrite heart. There are some who try to emulate the immoral, worldly lifestyles of Hollywood celebrities, but God blesses those who are pure in spirit. People may admire the ruthless and arrogant, but God despises such attitudes; He lifts up the humble.

For centuries, artists have attempted to capture Mary’s beauty in paintings and in sculptures. But the focus of Scripture is on the beauty of Mary’s holiness. She was striking not because of her physical features or any adornments she may have worn but because of the way she surrendered her life fully and completely to God.

Mary knew the miracle of God’s favor—His grace, mercy, and love—and it humbled her so that she delighted to obey. Are you taking this miracle for granted? Don’t lose your passion for the miracle of salvation—the miracle that through Christ, you are favored by God. This Truth will both humble your heart and give you peace as you trust your Lord to sustain you through every circumstance.

Prayer: Lord, I am in awe of Your matchless love. Thank You for making me a new creation in Christ. I praise You for Your grace and mercy toward me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you’” (Luke 1:28).

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