家中的至寶──信主的母親
路加福音一章26至38節
26到了第六個月，天使加百列奉神的差遣往加利利的一座城去，這城名叫拿撒勒，
27到一個童女那裡，是已經許配大衛家的一個人，名叫約瑟。童女的名字叫馬利亞；
28天使進去，對他說：蒙大恩的女子，我問你安，主和你同在了！
29馬利亞因這話就很驚慌，又反復思想這樣問安是甚麼意思。
30天使對他說：馬利亞，不要怕！你在神面前已經蒙恩了。
31你要懷孕生子，可以給他起名叫耶穌。
32他要為大，稱為至高者的兒子；主神要把他祖大衛的位給他。
33他要作雅各家的王，直到永遠；他的國也沒有窮盡。
34馬利亞對天使說：我沒有出嫁，怎麼有這事呢？
35天使回答說：聖靈要臨到你身上，至高者的能力要蔭庇你，因此所要生的聖者必稱為神的兒子（或作：所要生的，必稱為聖，稱為神的兒子）。
36況且你的親戚以利沙伯，在年老的時候也懷了男胎，就是那素來稱為不生育的，現在有孕六個月了。
37因為，出於神的話，沒有一句不帶能力的。
38馬利亞說：我是主的使女，情願照你的話成就在我身上。天使就離開他去了。
信息分享
讓我們想想馬利亞當時的處境。她很可能只是個十多歲的少女，竟被告知她將要未婚生子。如果從世人的眼中看，她會落入甚麼樣的境地？誰能幫助她？馬利亞卻甘願接受臨到她身上的事，因為她相信那是出於神的，神曾一直與她同在，她即時的幫助也來自祂。所以，她願意。
我們必須要讀約瑟怎樣支持她。他娶了她，孩子出生後，他便成了她兒子的繼父。這絕非易事，但馬利亞對神沉靜而堅定的信靠，必然深深地影響他。這對夫婦是令人敬佩的一對。
從聖經來看，約瑟似乎在耶穌出來傳道之前便已離世，但馬利亞一直持守對神及她兒子的信心。例如，在加利利的迦南婚筵上，她顯然相信她能目睹耶穌供應人的需要。直至到耶穌在髑髏地被釘至復活，她的信心不變。難怪神選擇她作為祂兒子的母親，讓如此的尊榮彰顯在她身上。
這樣的母親真是家中的財富啊，一位信靠神的母親，接受神的話，將榮耀歸於神，也順服神的心意。更有一位約瑟，這位母親的丈夫，雖然妻子的處境特殊，但因著他自己對神的堅信，神幫助他接受了她和她的處境。
一個是信靠神的妻子，一個是有愛心、榮耀神的丈夫，當他們同心，與神聯結的時候，必能面對任何的困境。馬利亞和約瑟如是，我們也能如是。 何不現在就求神幫助你與祂聯結呢？如果你還是單身，就請為你所認識的，正面臨困境的家庭禱告。
A BELIEVING MOTHER - WHAT AN ASSET IN A HOME!
Luke 1:26-38
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Message
One of these reasons was obviously her beautiful faith in God.
Think of Mary's position. She was a young teenager probably. She had just been told that she would have a son for whom there would be no visible earthly father. In the eyes of the world, especially then, what would be her situation? What support would she have? Mary was willing for anything because she believed the message she had received had come from God. Her first support came from God Himself. He was with her all the way.
Then we must see also how Joseph stood with her. He married her, and then when her child was born he acted as stepfather to her child. That would not be an easy situation. But Mary's quiet strong faith must have meant much to him too. They were a remarkable couple.
It would seem that Joseph may have passed away while Jesus was still in the home. But Mary's faith in God and in her son were also seen later in life. For example at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, she obviously believed that he could meet the situation, he could supply the need. She had faith in Christ right on through Calvary and the resurrection. No wonder God honoured her as He did in making her the mother of his Son.
What an asset in any home! First a believing mother who knew how to accept God's word, how to praise God, and how to accept God's will. What an example for us all! Alongside the mother was her husband, Joseph. His situation was unique, but God helped him to accept it because he too was a firm believer in God.
A believing wife and a loving God-honouring husband can face almost insurmountable difficulties together when they are in touch with God. Mary and Joseph did. So can we? Why not ask God today to help you stand together in Him? Of if you are single, pray for the families you know facing problems today.