Magnificat

There are two very significant testimonies of praise in the Bible that I return to often.    One would be Hannah’s prayer of praise in I Samuel at the birth of a son given by the grace of God.  And then, there was a virgin girl from Judaea who was the personification of ancient prophecy concerning the Messiah.  The one who would be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, The Everlasting Father.  She, Mary, had the literal, physical presence of God inside her as no one ever had.  If I can write without waking the neighbors with an occasional shoutin’ spell, let’s talk about that…

Turn to the Gospel of Luke chapter 1 and begin reading at verse 46.  When Mary entered the home of her cousin Elizabeth, the forerunner inside her LEAPED for Joy at the entrance of the soon to be born Lord.  Elizabeth’s glorification of what was happening in Mary’s life led the mother of the Savior to lift her voice in testimony of praise, the Magnificat.  What does her praise teach those of us who have the presence of the Lord dwelling in us in this age?

Mary magnified the Lord and rejoiced in the Savior with High Praise.  She fully realized how the God of Heaven had regarded the “low estate” of a handmaiden.  Her Humility was the cornerstone of such a testimony.  The only reason we know her name is because the Savior was in her. Then, notice Mary had a Henceforth!  She might have been a nobody in an obscure place that no one would have ever expected, but when the Lord came into her life, none of her past mattered.  Henceforth, it was all about a blessed future.  Henceforth, All generations would call her blessed. I do not know what your past is but if the Lord is in you, then you can have a Henceforth!  Can I get an AMEN!

Mary declared all the things the Lord Hath Done.  She saw the great things.  I think it is a  great thing to be able to get out of bed, get dressed, go to work, breathe, see, hear, taste, feel, think, eat, drink, love, speak and listen.  The Mighty one (v49) had shown her mercy (v50).  The Holy one had shown strength with his arm.  He scattered the proud, and put down the mighty.  He had exalted them of low degree, filled the hungry and helped his servants.  GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE!!

What an example for all of us.  With the prospects of another common Christmas in America, I hope that we can tap into the testimony of a virgin girl who helped to change the world by simply being who the Lord needed her to be.  She was able to experience the Holy through humility.  Because of His Mercy she could Magnify the Mighty.  We only know her because of Him.  All of that is the very same for all of us.

The kids have surely forgotten all that came in wrapping paper and bows last year as they knelt around the Christmas tree, but, as we kneel beneath the tree on which He died, may we not forget the magnificent Savior that came wrapped in swaddling clothes with shepherds bowing to the new born King who changed all of our lives.

God Bless You!

BroAdamB