Luke 1:39-56
Responses to the Message

Pastor Dave’s sermon this week continued the theme of “compare and contrast.” As for comparing, Elizabeth and Mary both received confirmation of what the angel Gabriel had said. Fetal John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth’s womb at the sound of Mary’s greeting, confirming what the angel Gabriel had told Zechariah in verse 15. The sign the angel offered Mary was Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy (v36), and it was proved true when an obviously pregnant Elizabeth met her young relative at the door. As for contrasting, the difference is not between Elizabeth and Mary but rather between these two women and us.

Elizabeth’s focus was on Mary and the Lord, not on herself and her own miracle. Mary’s prayer, what we call the “Magnificat,” focused entirely on God. Dave pointed out that Mary did not engage in one-upmanship with Elizabeth: Your son will be great before the Lord (v15) … but my child will be the Son of the Most High (v32). In her place, we might have done that. We can’t rejoice with those who rejoice; we must outdo. We make life about ourselves. And if I am the center of my life, then of course I deserve the credit for the great things that God (actually) has done for me. Dave said, “When we magnify ourselves, we minimize the Lord.” All of us should humble ourselves today and confess that we do magnify ourselves, and repent. We are members of the prideful human race; we have a human nature; we are guilty.

We can puff ourselves up, but we can also display self-absorption in the opposite direction. Dave noted that Mary did not doubt the angel’s message, arguing that she was just a lowly young girl, completely unfit for the assignment the Lord was giving her. You’ve overestimated me, Lord! Instead, she acknowledges that He is holy (v49), perfect, the One who makes no mistakes. When He chose Mary, He did not err. Here’s a question to consider: Have I ever dishonored God by refusing an assignment from Him, insisting that I am unworthy or incapable of it? Did I tell myself I was being humble when I was really trying to avoid being stretched and challenged? May our blood run cold at the thought of dishonoring God.

Contrasting ourselves and our proclivities to the godly responses of Elizabeth and Mary is discouraging. What are we to do? Dave pointed out that both Elizabeth and Mary were filled with the Holy Spirit, noting verses 41 and 35. We too need the Holy Spirit, the Helper Jesus promised to send when he returned to the Father. If we walk by the Spirit as a habit of life, we will display the acts and attitudes of the flesh less and less. To walk by the Spirit, we must hear His instruction. He speaks as you read the Word of God, somehow highlighting in neon yellow something you need to guide you that day. He speaks through other people or a thought or impression. It’s mysterious and hard to pin down, but vital. Ask the Holy Spirit to tune you, like a radio, to His voice. And then purpose to obey what you hear.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

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