Today is Thursday, December 7th, 2006; Karen's Korner #949
For generations people knew that God was going to send a Savior to earth. The Jews were eagerly awaiting the Messiah, but they thought he would come to save them from the powerful Roman Empire. They were ready for a military Savior, but not for a peaceful Messiah who could conquer sin.
It was Mary who knew what God's plan was first! And she praised God for what He was going to be doing with and through her:
"Oh, how I praise the Lord.
How I rejoice in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and now generation after generation forever shall call me blessed of God.
For he, the mighty Holy One, has done great things to me.
His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who reverence him.
How powerful is his mighty arm!
How he scatters the proud and haughty ones!
He has torn princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
He has satisfied the hungry hearts and sent the rich away with empty hands.
And how he has helped his servant Israel!
He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful.
For he promised our fathers --
Abraham and his children --
to be merciful to them forever."
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Mary's prayer of praise is sometimes called "Magnficant", the first words in the Latin translation of the passage. When Mary said, "Generation after generation forever shall call me blest of God", was she being proud? No, she was recognizing and accepting the gift God had given her. If Mary had denied her incredible position, she would have been throwing God's blessing back to him. Pride is refusing to accept God's gifts; humility is accepting them and using them to praise and serve him. Don't deny your gifts. Thank God for them and use them to His Glory!!
** Taken from the Life Application Living Bible.
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