What a blessing it is to contemplate the life of Christ and let His character become ours by surrendering to Him fully and appropriating His words to become what we think upon, act upon, and share with the world who needs to see a living revelation of His loveliness of character!
Mary also had to learn to trust Jesus' divine character and let Him act for Himself in the formation of His character as the Holy Spirit was leading Him. Here is a lesson for parents in that if a child learns more truth from the Bible, it would be well for the whole family to apply it and live it out in humble, surrendered trust.
At times she wavered between Jesus and His brothers, who did not believe that He was the Sent of God; but evidence was abundant that His was a divine character. She saw Him sacrificing Himself for the good of others. His presence brought a purer atmosphere into the home, and His life was as leaven working amid the elements of society. Harmless and undefiled, He walked among the thoughtless, the rude, the uncourteous; amid the unjust publicans, the reckless prodigals, the unrighteous Samaritans, the heathen soldiers, the rough peasants, and the mixed multitude. He spoke a word of sympathy here and a word there, as He saw men weary, yet compelled to bear heavy burdens. He shared their burdens, and repeated to them the lessons He had learned from nature, of the love, the kindness, the goodness of God.
As we learn of Christ, we also unlearn the distrust, worry and fear so common in our world today. Our lives may be living witnesses of all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing like Jesus' life was, as long as He has full possession of the heart and we walk in the path that He has for us day by day!
