Remembered

Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.” (Luke 1:46-55 NLT)

Do you ever wonder if God is listening, watching and attentive to what is happening around our world?  Do you cry (as David did) "How long will you hide your face from me?" (Psalm 13:1 NLT).  Mary's answer is clear, confident, filled with joy and glowing with gratitude. Mary doesn't just sing ... she shouts ... God Remembers!

I love this passage from Luke for many reasons, but maybe the most vivid reason is how this passage expresses the nature of God's love.  We use the word love lightly.  We love ice cream ... football ... hunting ... cars ... TV programs ... hot coffee.  God loves with passion, without boundaries and in a way that doesn't just tell us He is listening ... God shows us by His actions.  

Mary says "He took notice of His lowly servant girl!"  God sees us where we are and who we are and loves us anyway.  Mary was amazed and grateful.

Mary says, "He has done great things for me!"  I marvel at this verse as I see both the blessing of being chosen by God and the great burden of raising the Christ child into manhood, all the way to His death on a cross.  Mary was able to see past future burdens in the strength of her faith in God.

Mary says, "God has leveled the playing field ... HE is the great equalizer."  Mary sees God's action as the only total equality we will ever see as God does what Isaiah said when he prophesied ... "Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain" (Isaiah 40:4 NIV).  Mary saw God's justice and mercy in her mind's eye.

In her world of turmoil, pending persecution, uncertainty, political upheaval, real danger, economic difficulty and family problems, Mary sees all the way to God's glory, grace and provision.  Maybe we should too!  Randy