25 Days of Christmas
On the twenty-first day of Christmas, my Bible said to me...Mary understood the purposes of God.
Today's Reading: Luke 1:46-56
And Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord,47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,and holy is his name.50 And his mercy is for those who fear himfrom generation to generation.51 He has shown strength with his arm;he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;52 he has brought down the mighty from their thronesand exalted those of humble estate;53 he has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent away empty.54 He has helped his servant Israel,in remembrance of his mercy,55 as he spoke to our fathers,to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Through the Bible Readings: Zephaniah 3, Revelation 10–11, Psalm 145:1–9, Proverbs31:5–6
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: A Humble Girl
It has happened to me more than once - oh, so many times. I've gone up into the pulpit or into some other task thinking, "Lord, I am weak and helpless, and I need you." And God comes through. He lifts me up and helps me and I see the power of God at work. And then, when I am done, I think, "Wow, I was really good today."
I take credit for the good things God did. It is folly, but I've done it all too often. Mary was no fool and she understood exactly how things were. In this beautiful prayer she prayed, called the Magnificat through the ages, she shows that she gets it, she understands the ways of God.
With God, it is never about the greatness, talent, or abilities of the servant. She knew exactly who she was. The greatest violence done to the Christmas story has come through the veneration of Mary. She's been turned into a spiritual superwoman who was born without a sin nature and walked around Nazareth with a halo glowing all around her. No! No! No! And again, NO! She knew who she was, speaking of her "humble estate." She wasn't a perpetually perfect, sinless saint. She was an average girl whom God chose to use for his glory. And she knew it.
She thanked God for looking on her humble estate and for doing great things for her. In this prayer, the focus is on what God has done, on glorifying him and exalting his name. She isn't seeking her own glory, furthering her selfish ambition, or seeking to gain some boon from God. She has jumped in the water and is telling God to let his currents carry her wherever he will. She is his servant.
A humble girl in the service of a great God. We've missed that almost completely, haven't we? How do we achieve greatness in this world? You have to ability, talent, think highly of yourself, right? No. Humble yourself in the eyes of God and give yourself to him. See yourself as you are. A lowly man with a magnificent God. A humble woman with a great God. A servant of the master.
In the kingdom of God, it is not the ability of the servant that matters but that of the master. Humble yourself and serve him!
I take credit for the good things God did. It is folly, but I've done it all too often. Mary was no fool and she understood exactly how things were. In this beautiful prayer she prayed, called the Magnificat through the ages, she shows that she gets it, she understands the ways of God.
With God, it is never about the greatness, talent, or abilities of the servant. She knew exactly who she was. The greatest violence done to the Christmas story has come through the veneration of Mary. She's been turned into a spiritual superwoman who was born without a sin nature and walked around Nazareth with a halo glowing all around her. No! No! No! And again, NO! She knew who she was, speaking of her "humble estate." She wasn't a perpetually perfect, sinless saint. She was an average girl whom God chose to use for his glory. And she knew it.
She thanked God for looking on her humble estate and for doing great things for her. In this prayer, the focus is on what God has done, on glorifying him and exalting his name. She isn't seeking her own glory, furthering her selfish ambition, or seeking to gain some boon from God. She has jumped in the water and is telling God to let his currents carry her wherever he will. She is his servant.
A humble girl in the service of a great God. We've missed that almost completely, haven't we? How do we achieve greatness in this world? You have to ability, talent, think highly of yourself, right? No. Humble yourself in the eyes of God and give yourself to him. See yourself as you are. A lowly man with a magnificent God. A humble woman with a great God. A servant of the master.
In the kingdom of God, it is not the ability of the servant that matters but that of the master. Humble yourself and serve him!
Father, may I always remember to serve you and you alone.
Think and Pray :
Are you living in the spirit of Mary - a humble servant of a great God?
Do you live and speak the glory of God or seek to advance your own reputation?
Do you live and speak the glory of God or seek to advance your own reputation?
Carol of the Day:
Angels, from the realms of glory,Wing your flight o'er all the earth;Ye who sang creation's story,Now proclaim Messiah's birth:Come and worship, come and worshipWorship Christ, the newborn King.Shepherds, in the fields abiding,Watching o'er your flocks by night,God with man is now residing,Yonder shines the infant light:Come and worship, come and worshipWorship Christ, the newborn King.Sages, leave your contemplations,Brighter visions beam afar;Seek the great Desire of nations,Ye have seen his natal star:Come and worship, come and worshipWorship Christ, the newborn King.Sinners, wrung with true repentance,Doomed for guilt to endless pains,Justice now revokes the sentence,Mercy calls you—break your chains:Come and worship, come and worshipWorship Christ, the newborn King.Though an infant now we view him,He shall fill his Father's throne,Gather all the nations to him;Every knee shall then bow down:Come and worship, come and worshipWorship Christ, the newborn King..All creation, join in praisingGod the Father, Spirit, Son,Evermore your voices raising,To th'eternal Three in One:Come and worship, come and worshipWorship Christ, the newborn King.
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