The Faith Of Mary

God told Mary he was going to do the impossible and Mary believed, she had faith, she trusted God would make her conceive a child even before she saw the evidence of her pregnancy.

The author of the book of Hebrews defined faith in a similar manner:

NLT Hebrews 11:1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. 2 God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith.

NIV Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

God gave his favor or approval to those who had faith. People like Mary who were sure and certain of God’s promise even if they did not see it. Notice it says it is impossible to please God without faith. God continues to give his favor to those who have faith and trust in God’s promises today.

Promises like:

NIV Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Do you believe God works everything for your good if you love him and follow his calling, even when things in your life seem to be going poorly?

NIV John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Do you believe God loves you and sent his Son to give you eternal life?

Rom 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Do you believe God raised Jesus from the dead and will one raise your soul to be with him?

NLT Romans 3:24 Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. 25 For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us.

Do you believe God has forgiven you through Jesus Christ?

Without faith it is impossible to please God. We must believe what God has said if we are to receive His promises.

B. Active – Mary was willing to endure many things be a servant

But faith is more than believing something to be true with my mind. Faith must also impact how I live my life. My actions should reflect what I believe. Faith is active. I must do things differently and behave differently because I believe that what God said is true. I can believe 2+2=4, or that George Washington was the first president of the United States of America because it is true, but this kind of faith doesn’t change my life. It doesn’t make any demands upon me. Unfortunately we treat our faith in this way, if I believe in my head that something is true I have faith. To believe something is true in your head, and to act as though it is true are two different things, and yet faith incorporates both of these.