Hello,
We meet Mary just as the Angel Gabriel leaves. Having received news of not only her own pregnancy but that of Zachariah and Elizabeth immediately she hurries to a town in the hill country of Judea, to their home. I can imagine her tired and breathless yet bursting with excitement as she sees Elizabeth.
Mary’s praise to God, also known as ‘Mary’s Song’ teaches us something crucial about Mary and about ourselves. Created in the image of God who is Spirit, we are ‘Spirit beings’ with a Soul in a Body. In this world our lives are seen ‘as bodies with a soul’ and somewhere within, our spirit, (for those who believe we have a spirit). If we live from this paradigm, we see and act with the wrong focus, seeking provision for daily life to meet the needs first of our body and soul, missing our true source Jesus who wants to meet our every need.
If Mary had not understood this as her reality, her response to the news of her pregnancy would have been very different!
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| Painting by Margot Boijmans a friend in The Netherlands |
Mary’s Song
And Mary said: Luke 1:46-56
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
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—
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Mary’s words in response to the Angel’s visit are curious.
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my saviour.”
Mary’s words distinguish between the response of her ‘soul’ and ‘spirit’
From our Soul (mind emotions & will) we declare who God is; his character and nature.
(e.g. He is loving, kind, patient, compassionate) but through our Spirit, somehow, God causes us to ‘see’ salvation.
With human eyes Mary ‘sees’ her pregnancy, her unmarried status which under the law condemned her to death! Yet through her Spirit she is given the ability to ‘see’ something so powerful, so impacting; Hope! God’s awesome power! salvation! and she bursts out with these profound words of praise.
So whatever circumstances you face today, like Mary who waited surrounded by questions and uncertainty, in the waiting declare with your soul the goodness of God,
the character of God, the certainty of His Promise.
As you consider the situations and circumstances in your own life;
What do you need?
How are you seeking to meet your need?
Are you looking to Jesus as your source?
Activate your spirit praying for yourself Ephesians 3
“Father, Give us minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so we will truly know You.
Open the eyes of our hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in.
Empower us to understand the incredible greatness of your power as we put our trust in you.
Melissa Helser sings ‘Beautiful Jesus’ expressing who he is as her source. Its from her latest album ‘Beautiful Surrender’
Let’s worship Him with her now and take this time to refocus our hearts on him as our source.
