Imagine being the mother of the greatest man to ever live! Imagine an angel appearing to you to deliver the news and greeting you with, ‘Greetings, O favoured one’! This was the situation that Mary found herself in as she went about her own business. In her wildest dream, she would never have imagined this kind of favour granted to her. Yet God was pleased to enter the world as a baby through her. However, rather than being conceited and puffed up by this knowledge, she responded to the angel in utmost humility, _“I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”_ All that mattered to Mary was that God’s will be done, that her life accord to the word of God.

Humility, like someone has rightly defined it, is not thinking less of yourself but rather thinking of yourself less. In other words, you don’t need to demean or devalue yourself to be humble. Mary had a correct understanding of herself in view of who God is. She not only considered herself His servant but also her state lowly and as a result magnified the Lord through her song of praise (Luke 1:46-55). None of us will ever get the same privilege that Mary got since Christ is not coming back again as a baby but we must learn from her what our response to God’s blessings in our lives should be. Is it good looks, good physique, a family, a career, fame, leadership influence, business acumen, money, academic prowess, etc? We must be careful and in humility turn back to God in praise for these things for as the Bible reminds us, _“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble”_ James 4:6.

1. Which study this week has been your favourite?

2. What has been your understanding of humility?