GIVE THANKS AND REJOICE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is His name.”

“His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.”

“He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.”

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.”

“He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.”

"He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as He promised our ancestors.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Luke 1:46-56

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Mary’s heart was full of gratitude, welling up in a spirit of overflowing love and praise while glorifying God for blessing her with the privilege to carry and birth His only Son, the One who would be the Messiah and Savior of all mankind, the King of kings who would rule over the world forever.

After being told by her relative Elizabeth how very blessed she was “among women” to have the opportunity to bear a divine and holy child (Luke 1:42-45), we find Mary sharing a song of thanksgiving as she openly expressing her feelings while exalting God in the moment. In what has been largely known as the “Magnificat”, here are five specific things we find Mary glorifying God for, things we should also bear in mind ourselves as we bring too seek to pay tribute to the Father:

1. His mindfulness.

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is His name.”

In Psalm 8, we find David posing this question to God:

“...what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them?” v.4   

I have always loved this question because it is grounded in humility, understanding who God is and who we are in comparison.

Our God is omnipotent and eternal. He has no rival and is completely self sufficient, needing no one or nothing to exist and do as He pleases.

In contrast, we are limited in power, strength, and ability. We quickly find in life that it’s extremely difficult to try and make it through all the many difficulties and hardships that come our way as we march toward a sure day when we will no longer be alive.

God has nothing to gain personally by being mindful of us and yet He still loves and cares deeply for us, even despite the sinners that we are. It truly is amazing if you think about it and we find Mary thankful for how God was “mindful of the humble state of His servant”, allowing her, a lowly virgin girl from the town of Nazareth, to supernaturally conceive by the Holy Spirit and fulfill His promise issued through the prophets of old as she would give birth to Jesus, the Savior of the world.

This Christmas season, let us rejoice and be glad that God is mindful of us as, remembering all the great things He has done for us by way of His holy name each and every day.

2. His mercy.

“His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.”

When we realize just how sinful and unworthy we are, amazed at how God could be mindful of us, then we fully understand the blessing of His mercy, a mercy extended to all believers who would fear and respect God for His sovereign authority and unmatched majesty.

None of us deserve any good thing from God and yet He so loved us to offer up His only Son Jesus, the very Jesus who was growing in Mary’s womb, as a sin offering, a perfect Lamb who provided everlasting atonement and life to anyone who would believe in Him as Savior (John 1:29, John 3:16). After the fall in Eden’s garden, every single person in the world was destined for Hell and only the mercy of God, the Maker and Master of creation could stop it.

As we approach the celebration of our Savior Jesus’ birth, let us join Mary in being grateful and filled with joy through the truth that those who believe in God’s Son will not perish but have everlasting life, the greatest gift the Father has ever given.

3. His almighty power.

“He has performed mighty deeds with His arm.”

Every day, I am amazed by the power God holds, a power revealed every day through His creation and the miraculous works He does daily in the lives of those who place their faith and hope in Him.

Going back to the Psalms, this time to number 19, we find David sharing his feelings about God’s daily revelation of His glory and might:

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

As my wife and I were driving to church yesterday, a man we transport for worship every week remarked that the sun wasn’t shining. We had a storm system rolling into our area and it was dark, cloudy, and rainy but there was one certainty I shared with our friend.

The sun was still shining. It never stops although sometimes our view of it is obscured by the dark clouds as God delivers much needed rain to bless what He has created. We all love the sun but God providing water from above is just as vital to survival of the living things He has created, the species of which are infinite whether plant or animal or insect, whether on land or in the sea.

Nature is one perfect way to be reminded of the amazing work done by the hands of an amazing God. Another way is to stay tuned into stories about how a person’s life was changed for the better by an act that only God could do. Believe it or not, there are countless good news stories out there if we look for them, despite what you may see in the media.

Be assured God is hard at work every day doing mighty works while blessing others in such a way that bring thanksgiving and adoration, just as He did Mary. During this holiday season, look outside at all God has created and be filled with appreciation for His astounding handiwork then look back at the year past and remember all the ways He has worked on your life and the lives of people you know. I think you’ll quickly be reminded that God never rests in taking care of the people He is so mindful and merciful towards.

4. His authority.

“He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.”

I’ve always been amazed at how every major empire in human history rose to prominence, only to collapse and become just a part of human history. This is because people in power tried to rival God, becoming gods unto themselves. Such prideful behavior has always been the downfall of rulers who God removed from their thrones.

Conversely, God elevates the humble as we are reminded by these words from Jesus Himself:

“...those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12

God didn’t choose a queen of royalty and wealth to bear and give birth to His only Son in a majestic palace, attended to by the best medical professionals in the kingdom. Rather, He chose a humble virgin from Nazareth named Mary who would deliver the Lord of all lords alone with her husband Joseph in a lowly Bethlehem stable. Mary’s own words express her gratefulness for what God had done for her.

Indeed, God elevates those who are humble in nature because they place their full hope and reliance in Him. During Advent, let us examine ourselves as we prepare for Jesus’ coming, eliminating pride so to humbly come to the manger throne of our King Jesus, the One who God delegated all authority over everything in Heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).

5. His provision.

“He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.”

I can’t remember a time in life when God didn’t provide for my basic needs when I placed my full trust and hope in Him. In my times of hunger, He has filled me “with good things” and made sure I remained healthy and okay. Sure, I wasn’t rich by worldly standards but God has taught me over time through His word that our worth isn’t revealed by the things of the world but rather our spiritual value before a Lord who values our souls more than our possessions. Going back to Jesus, here’s what He said on the matter:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:19-21,24

As Mary sang her song of praise, she did so fully thankful for the Treasure from Heaven that she would soon deliver to the world, a Treasure that would bless mankind for all eternity. All people have a spiritual hunger to be fed by things that this world can’t provide. They can’t live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4) and will continuously thirst without the living water that only Jesus can give, living water that will well up within to eternal life (John 4:13-14).

This Christmas, rejoice and give thanks for Jesus, the Treasure of Heaven and hope of salvation, the gift from God, born of the virgin Mary, who feeds the hunger and need for eternal life.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com