The Everyday Gospel Christmas DevotionalSample

We sing today—and we will sing for all of eternity—songs of the grace of Jesus.

God hardwired us to sing. If you pay attention, you realize that we humans sing all the time. We sing spiritual songs, political songs, love songs, protest songs, happy songs, funeral songs, painful songs, and joyful songs. Little children sing nursery rhymes. and elderly people hum age-old tunes. Once our five-year-old granddaughter told us, “I made up a song about kitties.” We said, “Let’s hear it,” and off she went, singing the song she had made up on the fly. Composing and singing songs are quintessentially human. Our songs are expressions of the emotions and values of our hearts. Our songs reveal more about us than we might think.

So, when we read and study Scripture, we should slow down and pay attention to the songs along the way. The one who designed us to sing recorded and preserved songs for us. These songs are meant to focus our hearts, instruct us in the ways of the Lord, motivate our joy, and put words to our worship. One of Scripture’s most wonderful songs was composed by Mary. An angel had visited her and announced that she would give birth to the promised Messiah. When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, Mary sang this song:

"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. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." (Luke 1:46–55)

Notice Mary’s humility. She knows she didn’t earn the blessing of giving birth to the Messiah. She is but a humble servant, blessed with the favor of the Lord. Then notice how she speaks of her Lord. He is mighty in authority and strength, and at the same time tenderhearted in mercy. He deals with sin, while meeting the needs of his people. He remembers and has been faithful in keeping his covenant promises. Those promises will find their final fulfillment in the life, death, and resurrection of the little one in Mary’s womb. Holy is his name.

Mary’s gospel song has been preserved for us so that this joyful and Godward expression of her heart would be the song of our hearts as well.

Prayer:

My spirit rejoices in you, my God and my Savior. Indeed, your name is holy, and your mercy is for those who fear you from generation to generation. You have shown strength with your arm; you have scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. You have exalted the humble and filled the hungry with good things. O Lord, thank you for giving us every good thing in Jesus. In his name I come before you, amen.