Rejoicing In God's Promises

Luke 1:46
And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed.

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

At this special time of year we hear Christmas carols just about everywhere we go. They are on the radio, on television, in the malls, being sung by groups of people here and there. All of the carols have special joy and meaning to them.

In Luke 1:46 we read a special song that was sung in connection with this coming event - this blessed birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was sung by Mary, His mother. She had been visited by an angel who gave her the message that she had been chosen by God to be the mother of the Highest One - the Christ child, the Messiah who would come to save His people from their sins.

No doubt Mary, as a Jew, knew the stories and promises of the Old Testament. She knew the promise in Genesis 3:15 that took place right in the Garden of Eden after man had fallen into sin. God promised that He would send a Savior to redeem His people. Again in Isaiah 7:14 we read, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."

Mary had great joy knowing that these promises were to be fulfilled through her Son, the child that she would bear. She went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was experiencing her own miracle from God. I am sure there was a lot of joy between those cousins as Mary sang in Luke 1:46, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."

As her song continues, it is a reflection of the fact that she believed the message of the angel and the promises of God that He would bless His people through sending His Son. I hope you will take advantage of this time of year to think on the special promises of God. I hope that as you reflect on the celebration of Christ, you will think of Him as the Promised One who has come to save you from your sin. Find in His Word in John 3 how having faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, you can have eternal life.

As you think of the promises, I hope you will respond as Mary did - with submission, joy and trust. And I hope it will cause your heart to say, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." Happy Holidays! Happy rejoicing!

By Dr. Ann Shorb

Find out more about Christian counseling.

Related Articles and Devotionals:
Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow
Praise Him!
The Hope of Heaven

Back to HOPE-LINE index.

Read more devotionals from CCES.

Read more articles from CCES.