Mary and Joseph were very humble people. Mary mentions in her Magnificat: “My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the LOW ESTATE of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:48).
God looked for humility when He chose Mary to be the mother to bring forth the Savior of the world. It was not the status of her family; not her social standing, not brilliant intellect, not her gift of singing or any other gift, not her good looks if she was so endowed, and nor her pleasant personality.
Mary’s prophetic utterance made it abundantly clear that it was nothing less than her humility, her LOW ESTATE. She also prophecies: “He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of LOW DEGREE” (Luke 1:51, 52).
This is a great lesson for all who want God to lift them up. How low is our estate (regard of self) in our pursuit of humility? Have we reached the depth where God can gladly lift us up? We have just stated how God exalts them of low degree.
The question remains: How far down do we go to reach the point of low degree? Paul instructed the believers in Philippians 2:5-11: “Let this mind (attitude) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
It appears to me that the lower the depth of humility the higher the exaltation.
Men, we must take this truth to our own hearts and make sure that we impart it to our families.
To be continued.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell