An Advent devotional on Luke 1:46-52
And Mary said:“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.”
I love going to Cusworth Hall, a mansion in my local area of Doncaster. There are beautiful grounds, impressive doors and even a big pond. This is the sort of place where you would expect a king to be born, especially the King of kings. Yet Jesus was born in a smelly, dirty room filled with animals. It was the ultimate humble beginning. Jesus came, not as a mighty warrior, but as a servant, showing us that true greatness comes from serving others, not seeking recognition.
Throughout the Bible, we see that God chooses those who humble themselves before Him to fulfil His great plan. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the perfect example of this. In Luke’s gospel, the angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her that she, a young virgin girl, would conceive the Saviour of the world. This announcement was incredible, yet Mary did not respond with hesitation or pride, but with humble acceptance. She said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38).
After the angel visited Mary, she sang a song, as we just heard in the Bible reading. She praised God for lifting up the humble, and she rejoiced that God had chosen her to fulfil His promise to Israel. Mary’s words echo the book of James, which says that God “opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble and oppressed” (James 4:6).
Our ministry partner, PiFò Haiti, reflects the humble nature of Mary and Jesus through their sacrifice and generosity. At a time of great instability, PiFò Haiti are able to help vulnerable children gain access to quality education. Click here to see our charity gift of Education Packs, where you can fund a year’s worth of school supplies for two children on La Gonâve, Haiti. From humble beginnings, these children will be given the tools they need to grow and have hope.
Maybe this Christmas, you are comparing yourself to other people around you or on social media. They might seem happier, richer or more successful than you. Especially on social media, self-promotion and pride are celebrated, and yet false humility through self-deprecation is encouraged. Either way, in comparing yourself to others, the focus is on you. C.S. Lewis said, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." True humility is about shifting our focus away from ourselves, and this is where God lifts us up.
