Becoming a mother, can be a scary thought to many women.  Questions of incompetency, uncertainty and unworthiness, swirl through our hearts, just like it must have been for Mary.

In this account of the Bible, we find three characters, Gabriel, Mary and Elizabeth.  The angel, Gabriel introduces himself to Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband, in verse 19, saying, “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to tell you this good news,” announcing the birth of John the Baptist. Let us think about this for a minute!!  Gabriel must have been in the presence of God from the very beginning and was able to testify to the truth of God’s Words. According to the NIV Study Bible, the name Gabriel means, “God is my hero.” This is awesome and testifies that each Word from God is utterly trustworthy, reliable and true! The NIV puts it like this, “For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from Him impossible of fulfilment.” Hallelujah!!

In Luke 1:28, Gabriel appears to Mary and says, “Rejoice, beloved young woman, for the Lord is with you and you are anointed with great favour.” 

Mary was deeply troubled by these words, but the angel reassured her, saying, “Do not yield to your fear, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift. You will become pregnant with a baby boy, and you are to name Him Jesus.” Verse 33 continues with, “He will reign as King of Israel forever, and His reign will have no limits.”  What an awesome gift that is!!  In verse 38, Mary responds so beautifully, saying, “Yes! I will be a mother for the Lord!”  And “let it be with me according to your Word.” Suddenly she was not the young handmaiden any longer, but she carried the seed of life in her. The seed that would change history forever.

From verse 39, we read that Mary went to visit her aunt Elizabeth, who had conceived in her old age. At the moment Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby danced inside her with joy! Both Elizabeth and the baby were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.   These two mothers-to-be were on the brink of a new season in their lives, but also on the brink of a new era, in world history!

Wow! Here is so much more at play than meets the eye! The Holy Spirit was moving in miraculous ways to bring about God’s plan for mankind. This is an account of a magnificent event that involves Mary, Elizabeth, Gabriel and   each one of us. If there ever was a time that we, the believers, needed to be filled with, and to live by the Holy Spirit, it is now!

Let us forward 30 years on:

In John 2 we read the account that took place at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Here we find Mary, Jesus and his disciples among the guests. As we have already seen that wine plays a very important role in a Galilean betrothal and wedding.  When the wine ran out, Mary turned to Jesus for help.  At this point in His life, He had not done any miracles and he said to her: “My time has not yet come.” Mary, ignoring His answer, turned to the servants and said these profound words: “Do exactly what He tells you to do.”

Here we find a mother, with the Word of God living in her, giving the best advice ever! Her simple instruction set heaven in motion and involved the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who brought about the miraculous – the water was changed into wine! With this miracle, she propelled Jesus into His ministry, which manifested His glory and caused His disciples to believe in Him.  

What would her advice mean to us today? “Do exactly what He tells you to do.”

Jesus said to love the only one God and Father with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength.

Jesus said to seek His kingdom first and all things will be added unto you.

Jesus said to come to Him when you are overladen and heavy burdened, for He will give you rest.

Jesus said He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and that He will lead you in all truth.

Jesus said that he went to prepare a place for you so that you could be with Him in heavenly places.

Jesus said that He would never forsake nor leave you.

And so, we can find everything that Jesus said, when we start reading the Word of God as a personal love letter.

This is the advice from a MOTHER. The one who loves you unconditionally.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus. Today I want to take the time to thank you for my mom. Thank you that she is a Godly woman, filled with your Word and your Spirit. Thank you that I know that she is praying for me. Help me to follow her advice, to do exactly what you tell me to do. Amen.