She Reads Truth: EmmanuelSample

Mary visits Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist

Reflection

“'Tis more blessed to have Christ in the heart than in the womb. ‘Tis more blessed to have Christ in the arms of faith and love than in the arms or at the breast as the virgin Mary had.” - Jonathan Edwards

Mary is considered the most blessed of all women. She was chosen; a young, virgin, broken child of God to carry his Son in human form.

In her beautiful Magnificat, she fully expresses not only her sense the blessing, but also her gratitude. She doesn’t boast about her position, but she is honest about what she will be because of what the Lord did.

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.”

What I love about Mary most is she never tries to take center stage. Even knowing she carries the Christ child, there is no mindset of what she “should” have or be entitled to. She steps back to let Jesus have his ministry, being a faithful follower when the mother role fades away.

Mary was a physical form of love and comfort for our Lord as a child, but she and Jesus both realized this was an earthly, temporary position. When a woman shouts at Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” He says, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:27–28) Jesus wasn’t dismissing the importance of what Mary had done. He was showing His followers, then and for years to come, that devotion to the Son and the Father is of far greater importance than anything we an "do" with our lives. Even Mary, the mother of Christ, needed a Savior.

We spend Advent preparing our hearts for the Jesus that Mary bore and raised, the Jesus we know through our relationship and His Word, and the Jesus that we will meet one day soon. Our lives and love for Him are our Magnificat.

Prayer

Jesus, let our lives be a song of thanksgiving and blessing to you. Let us remember that we too are privileged to know you as Lord of our lives. Humble servants that we are, you still made a path for our life to intertwine with yours.

Advent Action

In the worshipful spirit of Mary’s Magnificat, write a poem, song or paragraph in praise to the Lord. Read it aloud in worship to Him.

Click the link to join the conversation with the She Reads Truth community!