Daily Devotional for Friday, February 27

The Subject of Blessedness

“And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee,” Luke 11:27.

A college student made the Dean’s list and was chosen for an honored award his first semester. At Christmas, he returned home. The next Sunday at church, an elderly lady hugged him and crooned, “I bet your mom and grandma are so proud of you!”

There is a comic featuring three Bible times women. One is on a horse that bears a bumper sticker saying, “Our son is an honor student.” The second is on a camel whose bumper sticker says, “Our son is in medical school.” The third woman rides a donkey, and her sticker says, “Our son is God.” The first woman says, “Well! If it isn’t Joseph and Mary.”

In Luke 1:28, Gabriel said to Mary, “Blessed art thou among women.” Elisabeth was not present, but she repeated that same phrase in Luke 1:42, and in verse 45, she said, “And blessed is she that believed.”

We know by reading Luke 2:22, 27, 39 and 41 that Mary faithfully honored God’s Law. Simeon blessed her and Joseph in the Temple as they fulfilled their requirements as children of God. Mary was indeed blessed among women!

In Luke 11 after Jesus articulately and wisely answered the Pharisees’ slander of him and put them in their place, a woman in the crowd cried out, “Blessed is the womb that bare thee!” (This was the first century equivalent of “Bless her heart!”) Again, Mary was indeed blessed. The angel of God said so and others agreed. But notice Jesus’ response in verse 28.

The blessing is not in any physical accomplishment or parental pride. The blessing is in hearing God’s Word and keeping it. This woman (and others) praised Mary, but Jesus pointed out the true blessing was in hearing and keeping God’s Word, something Mary did. That is the blessing.

THOUGHT

“Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28).

Kelli Reynolds