How to Have Faith Like Mary

Luke 1:39-56

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Takeaways

• God’s grace & mercy extends throughout all time and from one generation to another. He is omnipresent.
• His blessings are given to those who are faithful and he is generous with them regardless of mankind’s worldly status.
• In fact God often confounds those whose pride and worldly stature causes them to turn away from him and rely on their own resources.
• But to those who are hungry for His love, and turn to Him for their hope, he fills them and they are blessed.

One Couldn’t Help But Ask…

1. In Luke 1:36, the angel Gabriel tells Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant with a son. Why do you think Mary went from Galilee to Judah (about 100 miles) to visit Elizabeth? How would you explain the response of the unborn John the Baptist in the womb of Elizabeth?
2. In Luke 1:43, Elizabeth says to Mary “And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”. How is it that Elizabeth knew that Mary was to birth the Savior?
3. In Luke 1:54-55, Mary recounts that God had made a promise to Abraham and his descendants, her ancestors, that He would be merciful towards the forever. What is the mercy she is referring to?