Mary's Song

Read Luke 1:46-56

What makes you sing? Ideas and experiences have always been expressed through song in deeper ways than words alone can manage. Songs speak from heart to heart in ways that articulate the deepest human longings. In these verses, Luke tells us that the baby within Elizabeth (a.k.a. John the Baptist) leaped for joy within her at the greeting of her cousin, Mary. The presence of Jesus, still in Mary’s womb, was already fulfilling human longing and bringing joy to the world!

At this, Mary’s soul burst forth in song as the words of "The Magnificat" flowed from her lips, exalting the uniqueness of her Savior. This song subverts our expectations about what it means to be in relationship with God. It's by grace and not merit, through weakness and not strength, through humility and not power-plays, by admitting our need instead of striving for self-sufficiency. If your relationship with God depends on what you bring to the table, the likelihood is that your heart won’t be overflowing with joy anytime soon. So, make Mary's words your own by praying the Magnificat daily for the remainder of Advent. See if a song begins to bubble up in your heart, too!

QUESTIONS:

1. What is your basic mode-of-operation with God? Do you approach Him out of duty, entitlement, or rather grace? What symptoms or signs typify each approach?

2. Self-sufficiency is the enemy of relationship with God, but the hallmark of Western society. How does this tension impact your ability to follow Jesus daily?

PRAYER:

God, with empty hands outstretched, I seek Your presence, Your favor, Your joy. Let these gifts overflow me to bless others in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jeff Morlock

Saying "yes" to blessings

Again, the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”  But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test."  Then Isaiah said, "Hear now ... Is it not enough to try the patience of men?  Will you try the patience of my God, also?”  Isaiah 7:10-13

So let me get this straight, Ahaz.  God hands you an open invitation to name a sign – any sign! – and you said what?  Come here, knucklehead ... that calls for a few “what were you thinking” noogies.

Truth be told, we’re altogether a conflicted lot, aren’t we?  We decline God’s calls to sacrifice, knowing him to be forgiving.  Then we turn around and refuse his blessings, knowing ourselves to be undeserving.  (No wonder we are “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses”!  Who doesn’t enjoy a good Keystone Kops routine?!?)

When it comes down to it, commands and blessings share this in common: both require from us a response of faith – a complete entrustment of our entire selves to God.  When God tells us to do something, we must trust him with the outcomes of our obedience.  Likewise, God’s blessings carry with them a call to believe that he loves us, that he delights in us, that he wants to bless us ... even though we don’t deserve it.

So through Isaiah, God responded to Ahaz’s refusal of blessing ... with another promise of blessing!  “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)”

Cue Mary.  For when told by the angel centuries later that she would be the vessel through whom this ancient prophecy would be fulfilled – that she would bear Immanuel, “God with us” – her response was a faith example for the ages: “I am the Lord's servant.  May it be to me as you have said. (Luke 1:28)”

Has the "Ahaz" in you been rejecting God's blessings?  Perhaps by not accepting someone's sincere affirmation or expression of friendship?  Maybe by thinking yourself unlovable when people all around you are trying to show otherwise?  Questioning whether God's grace exceeds your unworthiness?

Personally, I'm trying to get better at receiving blessings and the love of God behind them. I'm making up my mind to be a little less like Ahaz and a little more like Mary in that way. Care to join me?

[To see the daily reading in Isaiah 7:10-15, click here.]

[To read “The Magnificat,” Mary’s continued expression of faith and gratitude in Luke 1:46-55, click here.]