A million thoughts could have gone through young Mary’s mind as she was suddenly and astonishingly visited by an angel and told that she would be overcome by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of the Most High. She wasn’t yet married (though pledged to be), and she was a virgin, yet was asked to believe this miraculous conception would take place inside her own body.
What would Joseph think? Would he leave her? What would her family think? Would they disown her? What would society think? Would they cast her out, or worse, stone her to death? But she put aside her fears, humbled herself to God’s will, and immediately answered “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” Because she did, she gave birth to the Savior of the World.
When Joseph discovered she was pregnant, his mind was rattled, and he planned to divorce her. (In those days, being pledged to be married was as serious a commitment as marriage.) Could he trust that the angel that came to him was telling him the truth, that Mary had not been unfaithful, but had amazingly become pregnant through the Holy Spirit? But he put aside his fears, humbled himself to God’s will, and married her, and watched the Son of God brought into this world.
The shepherds, living out in the field with their sheep, were visited by a host of angels and were told that an almost unbelievable thing had happened – the Savior of the world had been born, and was lying in a manger of all things. Leaving their sheep and their fears aside, they humbled themselves to God’s will, and not only went to see this newborn King, but spread the amazing news that the Messiah was in their midst.
The Magi left their home, followed a star, and humbled themselves to worship the King of the Jews.
And Jesus, though being God, the very one by and through whom all things were made, humbled Himself to His Father’s will, left His Heavenly throne, His identity as God, the worship of angels, and was born a helpless, vulnerable baby.
Even the Father revealed His character of humility by sending His own Son to be born, to suffer, and die for a sinful people.
The power of the Christmas story lies in putting aside fears, rights, and pride, and putting on humility. It is a picture of the beauty of fully trusting God and His will, no matter what, and submitting to it.
God’s character is one of humility, and that’s why it’s so powerful. We see that in the person of Jesus through His birth, His life, His death, and His resurrection to life again.
We don’t see a lot of humility in our world. Instead, it’s about pride, and rights, and self. And in living in the flesh, it lives outside God’s character, and loses the very power and blessing it’s striving for.
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.
Submit yourselves then to God.
Humble yourselves before the Lord,
and He will lift you up.”
James 4:6b, 7, 10
We see that play out in Luke 1:30 when the angel appeared to Mary and said,
“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”
And further in the story told by Luke, when Mary visited her relative, Elizabeth (who was also miraculously carrying a child in her old age), and worshipped God:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for He has been mindful
of the humble state of His servant.”
It’s not easy to humble ourselves to God’s will, especially when a million scenarios can run through our minds and fears stand ready to act as a wall, threatening to stand between us and God along with His favor, His will, and His blessings.
But the more time we spend with our Savior, the one who knows what it’s like to humble Himself and face those scenarios, coming out the other side victorious, the more we will love Him and be filled with His character of humility, ready to trust and obey Him in a moment’s notice, and stand with Him in victory on the other side.
This Christmas, in more ways than one, my Heavenly Father is reminding me of the beauty and power of humility, that good things come with it, and though I don’t understand the hows or whys of any given circumstance, if I will, in the strength and courage of the Holy Spirit, put aside my fears, then God’s goodness and untold blessings will fill my life.
May you find favor with God, and may you have a very blessed Christmas,
