Seeds of Promise Series by Shenica Graham

Women of The Bible

Mary the Mother of Jesus: A Faithful Servant

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Devotional Reading: Matthew 1:16,18,20; 2:11; 13:55; Mark 6:3; Luke 1:27-56; 2:5,16,19,34; Acts 1:14

Mary was blessed and highly favored of the Lord, above all other women (Luke 1:28). She was found trustworthy by God. He knew that He could rely on her to care for the child, Jesus, who would be no ordinary child. He would be the Savior of the world.

Mary had to have strong faith in order to face the prospect of being an unwed mother in a time when this could have meant public disgrace or even death. Mary must have been a prayerful person who knew the scriptures and prophecies of the Messiah. Once the angel Gabriel explained that she would bear the child who should be called the Son of God, Mary did not object for any reason, nor did she question him further, but replied, “Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said.”

Mary spoke like a woman of God. When she met with her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39 – 56), she had words of wisdom like a woman well in age in the faith. This suggests that she had been walking with God long before receiving the message of the coming blessed childbirth.

LUKE 1:46-55

46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Mary cared for the child Jesus, and believed in Him as her Savior. She was with him at birth; and she was there when He went to the cross for the sins of the world.

God saw a faithful servant in Mary. She did not have worldly riches when He chose her, but she was rich in spiritual maturity, a part of which was her extraordinary obedience and faith. She said that God had looked on her low estate” (Luke 1:38,48). But she always refers to herself as His handmaiden (Luke 1:48), meaning that she was in His service at all times. She was a faithful servant whom God rewarded with the blessing of His only begotten son.