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Mary, did you know? - December 19, 2006
Mary, did you know your baby boy is lord of all creation?
-- Mark Lowry, from his song, "Mary, Did You Know?
A popular Christmas song of recent years is "Mary, Did You Know?" The song poses such questions as "Mary, did you know your baby boy would one day walk on water... save our sons and daughters... give sight to a blind man... this sleeping child you're holding is the great I Am?"
The song is a vivid reminder that the creator of the universe humbled himself to be born a mere human being. The song also reminds us that God chose an ordinary individual for the extraordinary task of raising his son. Even the son of God needed a mother. The job of mother is critically important under any circumstances, but Mary was given the job of raising Emanuel -- God with us.
God could have chosen anyone -- a queen or a daughter of the most successful family in one of the greatest cities in the world. But he chose a girl of no social or financial status who was still practically a child herself and living in the hinterlands of Nazareth. And in raising Jesus, Mary lived up to the trust God placed in her.
The choice of Mary illustrates how God uses ordinary people to fulfill his work. Moses complained he didn't have enough command as a speaker to lead people out of bondage. God chose David -- the kid brother -- to be a king. And Jesus chose uneducated men in lowly occupations as his disciples.
We look for the external -- college degree, impressive vocabulary, career experience on a resume, the business suit, a fancy car, the right address. Having an education and experience and dressing well are important, but God looks much deeper. He looked at a teenage girl and saw a mother to raise the son of God.
What does God see in you? How do you see yourself in ways that might be keeping you from doing a job that God might be entrusting to you despite your lack of experience or status?
Books are filled with the stories of ordinary people in sports, entertainment and business who achieved the extraordinary. I marvel at the number of people I've known in my own business who once lived in fear of failure until they aimed at a target and surprised themselves by hitting it. That's why I've been able to tell people with conviction and faith over the past many years, "You Can Do It!"
This is a season of hope. Hope for the best. God has high hopes for you. He has entrusted you with important work in His kingdom. Remember the lesson of Mary.
Rich DeVos is the former chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.
Mary, did you know your baby boy is lord of all creation?
-- Mark Lowry, from his song, "Mary, Did You Know?
A popular Christmas song of recent years is "Mary, Did You Know?" The song poses such questions as "Mary, did you know your baby boy would one day walk on water... save our sons and daughters... give sight to a blind man... this sleeping child you're holding is the great I Am?"
The song is a vivid reminder that the creator of the universe humbled himself to be born a mere human being. The song also reminds us that God chose an ordinary individual for the extraordinary task of raising his son. Even the son of God needed a mother. The job of mother is critically important under any circumstances, but Mary was given the job of raising Emanuel -- God with us.
God could have chosen anyone -- a queen or a daughter of the most successful family in one of the greatest cities in the world. But he chose a girl of no social or financial status who was still practically a child herself and living in the hinterlands of Nazareth. And in raising Jesus, Mary lived up to the trust God placed in her.
The choice of Mary illustrates how God uses ordinary people to fulfill his work. Moses complained he didn't have enough command as a speaker to lead people out of bondage. God chose David -- the kid brother -- to be a king. And Jesus chose uneducated men in lowly occupations as his disciples.
We look for the external -- college degree, impressive vocabulary, career experience on a resume, the business suit, a fancy car, the right address. Having an education and experience and dressing well are important, but God looks much deeper. He looked at a teenage girl and saw a mother to raise the son of God.
What does God see in you? How do you see yourself in ways that might be keeping you from doing a job that God might be entrusting to you despite your lack of experience or status?
Books are filled with the stories of ordinary people in sports, entertainment and business who achieved the extraordinary. I marvel at the number of people I've known in my own business who once lived in fear of failure until they aimed at a target and surprised themselves by hitting it. That's why I've been able to tell people with conviction and faith over the past many years, "You Can Do It!"
This is a season of hope. Hope for the best. God has high hopes for you. He has entrusted you with important work in His kingdom. Remember the lesson of Mary.
Rich DeVos is the former chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.
