Daily Devotional for Monday, December 8

The Testimony of Mary

“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour,” Luke 1:46, 47.

 Pastoring is a position that lends itself to pride. I have heard men brag about their church size or the additions they have had recently or the salary or vacation time they are given by their church. They boast of social media followers or sermon subscribers. I cannot help but think of Jesus’ comment in John 7:18, “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory.” As a pastor, I have to actively avoid the temptation to be proud of myself regarding the Lord’s work. God sometimes has to remind me that I am not as awesome as I may think I am.

            Likewise, being religious is something many people embrace with pride, and many people consider themselves righteous because they are religious. The Bible reminds us that “our righteousness are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). There is a world full of lost people that think they are righteous by their own actions or knowledge. “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3). Just because someone says they are a Christian does not mean they are a child of God.

            Mary realized that she was the beneficiary of God’s blessing. God was her Savior. There are whole religions that worship Mary, and no doubt that would break her heart if she knew it. She humbly worshiped God, even though she could have bragged about being the mother of Jesus. She understood that “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised” (Psalm 145:3).

CHALLENGE

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

Chris Floyd