6. Mary visits Elizabeth
– Luke 1:39-56
Luke 1:42-42 “In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
When Elizabeth saw Mary not only did her baby jump for joy but she also recognized Mary as the “mother of my Lord”. The Holy Spirit must have told her that Mary would give birth to Jesus. Elizabeth’s greeting must have provided Mary with more reassurances that she really would give birth to God’s son.
We can take a deeper look at Mary’s song of praise to better understand God and how we should praise him
Luke 1:46-47 “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Mary began her song with addressing God. She says that her innermost soul praised and worshiped the Lord for all that he has done and all that he will continue to do. She did not praise him because he had gifted her, but because of who he is. She has great joy for God who provides salvation.
Luke 1:48 “for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant”
God delights in those who humbly serve him. He sees your toil even if no one on earth notices. He does not forget about you. He promises to bless you for your work. In all your ways, seek to be humble and give back to him. Be careful to not be prideful with the gifts he has given to you. Be a good steward. Rejoice in what he has given to you and use them to bring him glory. Do not use your gifts for selfish desires, but use your gifts to serve and praise God.
Luke 1:50 “His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.”
To fear the Lord does not mean you are afraid of him. You should not be afraid to speak to him. He is your good father. Instead, it means to honor and respect him. It is a sign of recognizing who he truly is. Think about it… God is the creator of the universe. He has formed you in the womb. He is the king of kings. He is the Great I Am. He is almighty and holy. He is perfect in every way. He desires the greatest respect you can give. Do not take speaking or praising him lightly. It may seem repetitive but don’t let it be. Prepare your heart and mind when speaking with him. Think about the most respected person you can think of on the Earth. Perhaps, it is the president or a king. Imagine how you would approach them. Now think about how you approach God. Is it similar in anyway? Do give God the respect he deserves? God promises to bless those who fear him for generations.
Luke 1:51 “He has performed mighty deeds with his arms…”
God has done great things. He has created the universe. He knows how many stars are in the sky because he placed them there. He formed you in the womb. He knows how many hairs are on your head. He orchestrates all things for your good. He does things that you will never know. You can only understand a small glimpse of his nature with your human mind. He is all powerful.
Luke 1:51 “… he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.”
God hates those who are proud. Those who believe that they are better than others. Those who take credit for gifts that are given to them from God. Those who lift themselves up.
Luke 1:53 “He as filled the hungry with good things…”
God provides for us all of our needs. He created you and knows what you need. He gives to us all the things we need to survive such as food and clothing. More so, he fills our souls. He embraces us with his love and satisfies us with his communion.
