In Search Of A Better Tomorrow

Time Alone With God Daily Devotional

Written by Pastor Phil Stout of JAXNAZ Church

Friday, December 2

Read: Luke 1:39-56

Luke 1:39-56
New International Version (NIV)

Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Start:

Consider: Mary’s song, known to Christians everywhere as The Magnificat, is a full-throated praise to the God who has promised her a son. But this is not just any son. This son will bring down rulers from their thrones and lift of the humble (1:52). This son will perform “mighty deeds with his arm” and will fulfill God’s promise to Abraham’s children—and through them to all of creation (1:51, 54-55).

We often think of Mary as a shy, unassuming young lady. She may have been. But that is not the Mary we see as she boldly proclaims the intent of God through Jesus Christ. Here she is proclaiming the inversion of the social order. She is saying that God, through her son, will turn everything upside down.

The amazing thing about Mary’s song of worship is that she knows that she is now part of what God is going to do. She can worship fully because, when confronted with the call, she responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).

Real worship takes place when the life of the worshipper is totally given to God. Mary’s worship rings with truth, authenticity and authority because of her submission to God’s will for her life. We are also called to be part of what God has planned for his world. We are part of the grace that changes everything. When my life, my love, my past, my present, my future, my strengths, my weaknesses—my all—is given to him, I am part of this new work of God that upends the world as we know it.

Pray: Ask God to help you worship “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24) as a participant in the work God is now doing and the work he will continue to do.