Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, allow me to reflect on a godly mother’s example.

Today’s scripture, 2 Timothy 1:5 (NLT)
shares the legacy of a mother’s faith…
[5] I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.

Consider…
I have previously shared my love and appreciation for the godly influence my mother had on my life. As I thought about and thanked God again for my mother today, I was inspired to read Jesus’ mother’s story again. Here’s what I discovered, Mary was a shining example of being God’s chosen vessel.

First, Luke 1:26-28 (NLT) shared…
[26] In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, [27] to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. [28] Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

From these verses we see that Mary was pure before the Lord, and was favored. This is significant because Psalms 24:3-5 (NLT) asks and answers…
[3] Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? [4] Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. [5] They will receive the LORD’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.

Purity is not something I hear emphasized in churches, yet in Matthew 5:8 (NLT) Jesus said…
[8] God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

I submit we need to be more intentional about living pure and blameless lives as Paul exhorted in Philippians 1:10-11 (NLT)…
[10] For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. [11] May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Mary’s example is a timeless reminder that God favors purity. It also should show us that God will only live and come through pure vessels.

Therefore if you want to experience God fully and be used by Him heed James 4:8-10 (NLT), which exhorts…
[8] Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. [9] Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Learn from Mary and seek to stay pure before God.

Another example we find from Mary is her uncertainty versus doubt. Notice in Luke 1:34 (NIV), her response to Gabriel telling her she was God’s chosen vessel to carry His Son…
[34] “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

Recall Sarah’s reaction to giving birth to God’s promised son of Abraham. Genesis 18:10-15 (NIV) shares…
[10] Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. [11] Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. [12] So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” [13] Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ [14] Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” [15] Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

There’s a valuable lesson found in Mary’s uncertainty of how rather than Sarah’s shamefulness of doubt. Let’s learn to never doubt what God can do even though we may not know how He will do it.

The final influence of Mary that we’ll consider today is found in Luke 1:38 (NIV), which says…
[38] “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

There’s nothing else to add. God wants our yes!

So today, let our Lord and Savior’s mother influence us to…

• Stay pure
• Never doubt in uncertainty
• Say yes to God’s will

Today’s Song is…
Yes, Lord, Yes

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)