Daily Reading: Luke 1
Scripture Focus: And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Luke 1:46-49)
Devotional Thought: The gospel of Luke picks up the story after generations of silence. God's people had been waiting for the Messiah. Faith wavered with no sign of the promise. An angel appears to a young virgin. God’s timing is not our timing, nor are his ways our ways.
Mary was most likely in her early to mid-teenage years when the angel visited her. She must have been terrified, not only at the heavenly being speaking to her, but also because of his message! She, a virgin, would conceive a child who would be called “the Son of the Most High,” (v32). In this culture, becoming pregnant outside of marriage would have cast her into the lowest possible category of humanity, and perhaps even endangered her life. Not to mention that she must now explain her condition to her fiancé! But the Lord in his mercy sends an angel to Joseph as well, and he accepts the situation.
Mary - rather than feeling entitled to her own right to live her life as a normal, God-fearing Israelite - gives up her rights to receive God’s blessing. As shocked and fearful as she must have felt, she praises the Lord. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior… from now on all generations will call me blessed…” (v46-48). Though she knew she would face ridicule and judgment, she had faith that the Lord would do as he promised. She was an obedient vessel, willing to sacrifice her reputation to bring the Savior into the world. Do we recognize our role in our relationship with the Lord? He is the Potter, we are the clay, (Is. 64:8). Let us obey his will and reap the blessings he has in store for us.
Jenny
Prayer: Lord, help us to give up our desires that conflict with your desires for our lives. Open our hearts to opportunities to be your vessels and to love others sacrificially, just as your Son did for us.
Psalm of the Day: 13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: 14 "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy. 17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine." (Psalms 132:13-18)
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