Let's meet this incredible woman. Of all the writers of Scripture, it is Luke who highlights Mary. Twelve of the 20 verses that name her are in Luke and one is in Acts, so 65% of all that we have comes to us through Luke. So we need to turn to Luke 1. We will find out the qualities God admires in a woman. He picked her out of the entire world for this special assignment!
MARY WAS SOUGHT OUT BY GOD (Luke 1:26-28). She joined so many others: Adam and Eve in the Garden, Noah in the Pre-Flood world, Abram in Ur, Saul on the road to Damascus . . . God is in the people-seeking business.
MARY WAS HUMBLE (Luke 1:29, "Who me?"). No airs, no pride, just a humble troubled heart that anyone would even say such a thing. She knew her own heart, certainly, God would too!
MARY PARTOOK OF GOD'S GRACE. She was saved by God (Luke 1:30, lit. "discovered grace of God"). Mary joined the countless multitude who are heirs of life eternal by God's grace. Marvelous grace of our loving Lord grace that exceeds our sin and our shame, yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured there where the blood of the Lamb was shed. Her study of the Word led her to the open arms of "God my Savior."
MARY HAD AN INCREDIBLE MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY (Luke 1:31-33). To produce within her body tiny hands that would someday touch lepers with a healing touch, to form a mouth within her womb that would speak the very Word of God, to feel the kick of feet that would walk the roads of Israel and spread the Gospel. What an incredible ministry opportunity.
Taken from "Mary: Mother of James" by Discover the Book Ministries (used by permission).
