Louise Gevers
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:10, GNT
I was probably about Mary’s age when I was asked to sing the Magnificat (Mary’s song of praise) at the school Carol Service. Overawed, but reluctant to refuse our Principal, I agreed – with some trepidation – but learning Mary’s words captivated me and gave me insight into her profound sense of the magnitude of God’s plan, and her genuine elation at being his “lowly servant”.
Mary was a young girl like no other, wise beyond her years, with a fresh and trusting spirit, and a pure heart. Being engaged to Joseph, a descendant of King David, had not altered her deep reverence for God and is seen in the way she receives his messenger, the angel Gabriel. Mary immediately appreciates the importance of such a visitor and receives the news he brings from God willingly.
The person that God chose to be the mother of his Son would have to have been someone with deep faith and courage to endure, because from the very beginning much would be required of her as the mother of the Saviour of the world. She would be held accountable for her condition; endure a long journey at the most uncomfortable time of her pregnancy, and give birth in a stable. The family would have to flee the cruel King Herod and live as fugitives in Egypt, and later, her life would hold deep suffering.
To seriously be in step with God begins with a deep appreciation of how truly great he is and how very ordinary we are; our response to things that happen in life will always be motivated by what we’re most focused on – God or the situation – others or ourselves. Mary was in step with God’s plan.
Mary didn’t know all the things that would be expected of her when she gave her consent to Gabriel, but humbly, in faith, willing to hear and obey she embraced whatever God required of her because He was her heart: “I am the Lord’s servant … may it happen to me as you have said.”
(Luke 1:38)
Being in step with God involves a humble life of growing faith as we rely on his wisdom and not our own abilities to face every situation. Humility, gratitude, and praise are inextricably linked in this as they keep us grounded and enable us to lead fulfilling lives as we find our worth in his eyes.
When we’re humble we, “give thanks in all circumstances”
(1 Thessalonians 5:8) and entrust ourselves and our talents to God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”. (
Ephesians 3:20)
Mary did that – will we?
Prayer: “Teach me your ways, O LORD; make them known to me. Teach me to live according to your truth, for you are my God, who saves me. I always trust in you … Forgive the sins and errors of my youth. In your constant love and goodness, remember me, LORD!”
(Psalm 25:4,5,7) Amen
Louise Gevers
Ek was ongeveer Maria se ouderdom toe ek gevra is om die "Magnificat" (Maria se loflied) tydens die skool se Kerssangdiens te sing. Ek was oorweldig, maar wou nie vir die skoolhoof nee sê nie. Met vrees en bewing het ek ingestem – om Maria se woorde te leer het my egter geboei en my insig gegee in haar diepgaande gevoel vir die omvang van God se plan en haar opregte opgewondenheid omdat sy God se nederige diensmeisie kon wees.
Maria was 'n gewone jong meisie, wys bo haar jare, met 'n vertrouende gees en 'n rein hart. Die feit dat sy verloof was aan Josef, 'n afstammeling van koning Dawid, het nie haar diepe eerbied vir God verander nie. Ons sien dit in die manier wat sy die engel Gabriël, God se boodskapper, ontvang. Maria besef onmiddellik die belangrikheid van hierdie besoek en sy ontvang die nuus wat hy bring, gewillig.
Die persoon wat God gekies het om die moeder van sy Seun te word moes noodwendig 'n diep gelowige persoon wees met die moed om baie te kon verduur, want reg van die begin is daar baie van haar as die moeder van die Verlosser van die wêreld gevra. Sy is verantwoordelik gehou vir haar toestand; tydens die ongemaklikste deel van haar swangerskap moes sy 'n lang reis verduur, en in 'n stal geboorte gee. Die gesin moes later van die wrede koning Herodes wegvlug en as vlugtelinge in Egipte woon. Later in haar lewe het daar baie lyding op haar gewag.
Om ernstig in pas met God te wees begin by 'n diepe besef van hoe groot Hy is en hoe gewoon ons is. Ons reaksie op dinge wat in ons lewe gebeur sal altyd gemotiveer word deur dit waarop ons die meeste fokus – God of die situasie – op ander of op onsself. Maria was in pas met God se plan.
Maria het nie geweet wat alles van haar verwag sou word toe sy Gabriël se boodskap aanvaar het nie. Sy het nederig, in geloof, gewillig om te luister en te gehoorsaam, alles wat God van haar verlang het aanvaar want Hy was in haar hart: “Ek is tot beskikking van die Here. Laat met my gebeur wat u gesê het.” (
Lukas 1:38)
Om in stap met God te wees verlang nederigheid en geloof wat groei en om ons in elke situasie op sy wysheid te verlaat en nie op ons eie vermoëns nie. Nederigheid, dankbaarheid en lof is onlosmaaklik hieraan verbind aangesien dit ons gegrond hou en ons in staat stel om, soos ons ons waarde in sy oë vind, vervulde lewens te lei.
Wanneer ons nederig is sê die Bybel ons moet: "in alle omstandighede dankbaar [wees]"
(1 Tessalonisense 5:18), en "aan Hom wat deur sy krag wat in ons werk, magtig is om oneindig meer te doen as wat ons bid of dink" (
Efesiërs 3:20) onsself en al ons talente toevertrou.
Maria het dit gedoen – wat doen ons?
Gebed: "Maak my u wil bekend, Here, leer my u paaie. Laat u waarheid my lei en onderrig my daarin, want U is God, my redder. In U stel ek elke dag my verwagting ... Moet tog nie dink aan die sondes en oortredinge van my jeug nie. Dink aan my in u trou, Here, omdat U goed is."
(Psalm 25:4-5,7) Amen