“And the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, hail, thou that
art highly favored, the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women.”
{vi 24921-24922}Luke 1:27-28
Have you ever stopped to consider Mary, the Lord’s mother? I believe the Lord has given us many examples of godly women in the scriptures. One day I thought, I want to study this special lady. Of all the women in the world, God picked her to be the means of bringing into this world His beloved Son! What qualities did she have? Luke 1 first tells us she was a virgin. So purity marked her life. If it hadn’t, she could have never brought forth God’s Son, because the Old Testament had said she would be a virgin.
Verse 38 shows she believed God, unlike Zacharias. She did ask how this could be since she wasn’t married, but when told, she believed. She took God at His word in faith. Then in verse 47 we find she rejoices! It reminds me of {vi 29324-29325}Ephesians 5:19-20 where we are exhorted to sing. What a happy occupation for us as we go about our housework! If you’re not one who enjoys singing, then take advantage of recorded hymns. You’ll be surprised how these hymns will lift your heart in praise.
Notice also how she and her husband had self-control. They were married for close to nine months before the Lord Jesus was born, and yet they never came together. No doubt God specially helped them in this area, but still, self-control obviously marked her life.
We find Mary’s life was marked by purity, faith, rejoicing, and self-control. May God help us to follow her godly example.