Gígjökull, an outlet glacier extending from Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland. Lónið is the lake visible in the foreground.by Andreas Tille
Good morning, beloved,
We went to the mall yesterday. I’m not sure what came over us but we went to a store that was all decked out for Christmas. There were crafts to make, toys to try, and Santa to visit. Of course, when we learned it would be three hours before we could greet the jolly old elf, we exited stage left. We then entered the mall. We had a mission: each sibling to find a gift for another sibling. We separated and I took two. Joshua took two. Overwhelming. Danny found the gift for his sister. It was perfect. The store mystified me for a moment until I realized there were two security guards patrolling the tiny place. There were people near the counter where we were paying and I was amazed to watch the guards carefully see every movement. They were afraid that an object was about to be stolen.
The Beeston Christmas tree.by mattbuck
Now me? They didn’t really pay attention to me other than to help Daniel pick out the gift and check us out. The guards made assumptions of both the people by the counter and of me with my kids. They regarded us and found one party untrustworthy. It was a shock to my system.
In our continuing work through Mary’s Magnificat, Mary speaks to her lowly state and how the Lord regarded her.
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
Looked: (epiblepō) to turn the eyes upon, to look upon, gaze upon on. The root word of epiblepō is blepō which means, to turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing, to consider, contemplate, to look at, to weigh carefully, examine.
Humble estate: (tapeinōsis) spiritual abasement, leading one to perceive and lament his (moral) littleness and guilt
Servant: (doulos) one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men
Mary knew the Lord had considered her, examined her. She was humbled by His gaze, humbled He thought of her, because she knew her heart had sin, she understood her need of forgiveness and mercy from the Lord. She regarded herself as lowly, unworthy, yet willing to be used however God saw fit. God saw fit to trust her with His Son.
What verses was she referring to? She was quoting the Old Testament…let’s look at some possibilities.
Psalm 136:
23 To Him Who [earnestly] remembered us in our low estate and imprinted us [on His heart], for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;
24 And rescued us from our enemies, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever;
Isaiah 66:
2 For all these things My hand has made, and so all these things have come into being [by and for Me], says the Lord. But this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word and reveres My commands.
49 For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
Will call me: (makarizō)- to pronounce blessed. from a root mak–, meaning “large, lengthy,” found also inmakros, “long,” mekos, “length,” hence denotes “to pronounce happy, blessed,”
So the words here, I love this..Mary knew that from this point on in history she would be regarded by the generations. It is interesting to me that “will call me” and “blessed” are the same word. The word is repeated. This only happens one other time in the New Testament:
Christmas decorations, Astir Palace Hotel, Vouliagmeni, Athens, Greece, Christmas 2009 by Vouliagmeni
James 5:
11 You know how we call those blessed (happy) who were steadfast [who endured]. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the Lord’s [purpose and how He richly blessed him in the] end, inasmuch as the Lord is full of pity and compassion and tenderness and mercy.
We will never, ever truly understand the majesty and wonder of God with us, will we? Mary knew she was blessed. Do you know you are blessed? Feel it or not, you are blessed with Emmanuel, God with us. God sees us in our lowly state now and loves us. As we are, He reaching out His hand for us to hold. We are so blessed to have His Spirit. Let’s be a blessing.
48. I am thankful for books that make me laugh.
49. I am thankful for yummy fudge.
50. I am thankful for Christmas lights.
Christmas Lights and Christmas Ornaments with Cool Light Effect by ParentingPatch
Pray on. Pray on.
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