“Living Among the Giants”

 

TOPIC:‌“The Magnificent Devotion of Mary”

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌St. Luke 1:26-38

 

‌‌“And Mary said, My soul does magnify the Lord,

And my Spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (1:46, 47)

 

‌Interest in Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been growing in recent years among evangelical Christians. When she is correctly viewed by evangelical scholars, Mary is seen as one of our brightest and best examples of what it means to be a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. As such, she is someone to both imitate and emulate. As the mother of Jesus, but also as one of His steadfast disciples, Mary followed Jesus all the way to the cross. Others deserted Him, but Mary stayed devoted to Him.

 

Though there are some today who incorrectly magnify, glorify and deify Mary to the point of worshipping her as the mother of God, this should not obscure the magnificent devotion which so characterized her life. The Westminster Confession of Faith of 1647 states: “Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” That completely describes this devoted saint of God. She glorified God in her life and enjoyed His presence throughout her life. No wonder Mary has been praised by countless generations as "blessed among women."

 

‌Let's take a closer look at Mary, this divinely chosen vessel, and the high honor bestowed upon her, that of giving birth to the Savior of the world.

 

I.

 

‌Consider, first of all, the SOVEREIGN PLAN that God had for Mary's life. And God has a plan for each one of us. Luke describes it for us in verses 30 and 31: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus.” Think of it: The God who made Eve without the help of a woman now announces that Jesus will be born without the help of a man. Here we enter into a divine mystery!

 

‌The process of the birth of Jesus was natural, but the conception of His birth was supernatural. It was without parallel in history and contrary to the course of nature because Jesus was born without an earthly father. Think of what happened: By a direct act of God, the Holy Spirit formed within the womb of His chosen vessel a body through which God took upon Himself a human nature and was born as the baby Jesus.

 

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