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God’s Existence – Do you believe?

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Hey Friends 💕 Welcome to day 1 of our first journey in 2025! The LGG Study, “Firm Foundation,” is the perfect way to begin the new year, as the passages will help us build our lives on the unshakable truth of God’s Word. In this first week, we will be looking at “The Nature of God,” – starting with God’s Existence and the importance of believing what Scripture says about His existence.

Scripture and Observation
Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5; Hebrews 11:1-7/SOAP: Gen 1:1/Heb 11:6

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Gen 1:1

Now without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

What stood out in my mind after reading the familiar passage in Genesis was this one truth: It takes faith to believe what we have not seen and cannot even conceive to be possible. I’m sure that is why the study then directs us to Hebrews chapter 11 – where the author points out that it is only by faith that we can come to believe that in the beginning, before there was light or life, there was God, and He created the world.

The author of Hebrews goes on to make many other “by faith statements,’ including… the world being “put into order,” Enoch being “taken up to be with God without seeing death…” and “Noah building an ark when he saw no evidence of the need…” – It is why Hebrews 11:6 emphasizes that “without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

Application – of today’s journey

It is clear that our faith in God’s existence, as told in His Word, is an essential piece of a “firm foundation,” specifically that:

  • God exists – and that
  • He spoke the world into existence out of nothing

Without faith in this truth, we are like those who were condemned in Noah’s day. For. as the Scriptures say, without faith, we cannot obtain the righteousness of Christ1, which is necessary for us to be made right with God. (see Rom 3:22; 5:9; and 2 Cor 5:21)

Friends, it is so important to understand that faith is not just hoping that what the Bible says is true; as Hebrews teaches, it is being sure of what we hope for and being convinced of it – even though we have not seen it or understand how it could be true.

For we walk (live) by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

Perhaps this is why Paul taught, “We walk by faith, not by sight” in 2 Cor 5:7, a verse that I use often when I am facing struggles or when I don’t understand where God is leading. According to Bibleref.com, the verse is a testimony to the faith of Paul and His fellow believers, that “they so thoroughly believe the gospel, including their own resurrection and eternal satisfaction, that the struggles facing them are not the most important concern. What they “see” includes death, pain, suffering, opposition, and challenge. They feel the burden of those things deeply (1 Corinthians 1:8), but they count the unseen things waiting for them with Christ as more real than the suffering of the moment (2 Corinthians 4:18).” – The same was true of Noah in his day and should be true of us today – “for without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

Prayer in response to the journey

Father, it is good to be reminded of the importance of our faith – not just in Christ but in the ‘realness’ and existence of You. To believe that in the beginning, the world was dark and empty and without form until You spoke, saying: “Let there be light” is an essential element of our faith – for as we have been reminded, without faith it is impossible to please You, for the one who approaches You must believe that You exists and that You reward those who seek You. As we proceed through this journey, Father, continue to reveal Your truths to us and grace us with understanding so that individually and together, we might build our lives on the unshakable truth of Your Word.

The More We Know About the Journey

For more insight into today’s journey, be sure to check out today’s LGG Blog.

We will look specifically at the Trinity on day two, but in today’s passage, it is worth noting that in the beginning, when God created the world – Jesus/the Word was with God (Jn 1:1, 14) and that the Spirit of God was also present (Gen 1:2)

Today’s Footnotes
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This Is Me

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Who am I?

I am MaryEllen Baumgardner-Black, a graduate of Mid-America Christian School and a former student of Marshall University. I am a 63-year-old mom of two wonderful daughters (Annie and Abi) and one son-in-law (Nathan), and I am the Oma of a sweeter-than-sweet, 3 and 1/2-year-old grandson (Lincoln). Aside from my relationship with God, they are the greatest joys of my life and are numbered among the many gifts of grace God has given me!

Employment

I am blessed to work at my church (Lewis Memorial Baptist) as an administrative assistant and content editor/writer for our monthly publication, the Connect magazine.

Faith

I believe that we are saved by the grace of God through faith in His son, Jesus Christ. I believe that this grace is a gift that can neither be lost nor taken away. I believe that when we come to Christ, we are made new; the old is gone, and the new has come. I believe that God changes us from the inside-out through His Word, through His Spirit, through His Love, and through life experiences – and when He does we are never the same again.

  • Life Verse: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

I’ve been a believer since I was six years old – that’s a total of 56 years. Being a believer since six, in no way means that I have walked the walk or talked the talk for all of those years. The long and short of it is this: I got off track along the way and landed in the ‘wilderness’ – but because of that wilderness, I can tell you with certainty that God is the faithful God that His Word proclaims Him to be, and that His Word is truly a lamp that guided my feet back to solid ground. At the age of 28, God used His Word and a body of believers to help me understand the true and powerful meaning of His grace, mercy, and love to show me what it looks like to be a true and faithful follower of Christ. Through them, God taught me that Christianity is more than a religion – it is a living and vibrant relationship with God, the Father – the Son – and the Holy Spirit.

God (the Father, Son, and Spirit) is my rescuer, the faithful lover of my soul who pursued me, made a way where there was no way and saved me from a life of sin and shame. He has broken chains and pulled me from pits so that I might walk in the freedom of His grace. Through His grace, mercy, and love, He has truly changed me from the inside out. He continually teaches me to live one day at a time and frequently reminds me to remember that He’s still working on me, shaping me into His faithful follower, preparing and equipping me with all I need for life and godliness – and forever reminding me that I am utterly and forever, totally dependent on Him.

His Calling On My Life

As with all believers, God has called me to ‘go and make disciples’. However, at the age of 30, God called me to minister to women – specifically to encourage, equip, and empower women with His Word. Since that time. He has equipped me to minister not only to women who want to grow in their walk of faith but also to be a listening ear or offer words of hope and comfort to those facing specific challenges, such as divorce, infertility, and anxiety, as well as those who have lost loved ones, and those who have children with cancer or birth defects and most recently Currently, He is preparing me to equip and encourage those who have parents with dementia. I believe this is a part of how God works in all things for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

2 Corinthians 1:4

Comments or questions: Message me at mryelnb@aol.com (subject line: “Re: mefromthensideout”)

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The Song of the Shepherds

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There is no more fitting way to wrap up our 2024 study of Advent than to share this final journal entry from the. LGG, study: Rejoice, A Celebration of Advent. It is a wonderful review of where our journey led us and beautiful expressions of hope that the journey will have a lasting spiritual impact on our hearts, minds, and lives – and ultimately on our relationships with Jesus, our Prince of Peace. ❤️

Scripture; God’s Road Map for Our Journey/Luke 2:15-20; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 15:1-4

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

1The glory which the shepherds had seen in the fields did not last very long. When the angels went back to heaven, it was dark again. The night was quiet, and the sheep continued grazing. But these men’s lives were not the same. After they had gone to see Jesus, we are told that they “returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.” God’s glory had come into their hearts, just as it comes into the heart of every Christian.

We have spent four weeks rejoicing along with the Advent songs of the gospel of Luke. We have learned from Zechariah, Simeon, Mary, and the angels. Together with them, we have seen some of God’s glory when we look at His wonderful attributes, His holiness, strength, tender mercy, and compassion. May we remember this glory and grow more and more in the knowledge of Him. May we do so with singing in our hearts.

May we experience true joy in our Savior, who came on that first Christmas over 2000 years ago. We know that He has done the most important work at His first coming, carrying our sins away and defeating our enemy.

May we trust Him who continues to come to us daily in all our worries and pain. He is our best friend, our Prince of Peace, and our comforter. We can pour out our hearts to Him and look to Him for help.

May we patiently wait for Him, who will soon come back in power and majesty. The next time He comes, He will judge all those who have rejected His mercy, who were too proud and self-sufficient to turn to Him. And He will take His own, those who have fled to Him for shelter, to enjoy His glory in heaven forever.

Until then, let’s live like the shepherds and tell many other people about Jesus, the wonderful Savior who loved us so much that He left heaven to come to us.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to us that first Christmas. Let your glory shine brightly in my heart today and in this coming year. As I wait for your glorious return, let me be a witness and tell others about you. Amen.

  1. borrowed and shared from the Love God Greatly journal entry, Rejoice/p147 ↩︎
Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

With Whom Is He Pleased?

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Scripture: God’s Roadmap for Our Journey/Luke 2:14; Romans 5:1-11; Isa 9:6

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased!”

Luke 2:14

Oh, the utter beauty of God’s Word and love! How it shines through from the first words of today’s passages to the last. Or perhaps I should say from the last words to the first … as it was Isaiah who wrote about the child who would be born – and be called the Prince of Peace – long before Luke penned the words to the story of the virgin Mary giving birth to her firstborn son in a little town called Bethlehem, and laying him in a manger. It was a story that included not only the angel’s declaration to shepherds in a nearby field but also the song of the angel and the heavenly host “praising and worshiping God, and acknowledging His supreme majesty and sovereignty.1“

  • The Declaration: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
  • The Song: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased!”

The child Isaiah prophesied would be called “the Prince of Peace” was the same child that Mary lay in the manger and of whom the angel’s song declared: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Paul writes of this peace in Romans chapter five, where we read: “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (again, the same child that Isaiah and Luke referred to) – What a wonderful thing to know and understand that faith in Jesus brings peace between God and man. We are no longer condemned as our sins deserved, but we are cleansed, set free from the law of sin and death, and given bold access to the throne of our God. The curtain has been torn in two, and we are covered by the blood of Christ, the lamb of God – the Prince of Peace – the baby born of a virgin, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and found lying in a manger just as the angel said.

Paul also writes some of my favorite words in Scripture concerning peace with God. They are found in Romans chapter five, namely verses 8-11. It is here we read that “God demonstrated His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” … being declared righteous through Christ changed our enmity with God to peace. Paul uses one other word that speaks of peace, and that is reconciliation, which infers peace by its very definition – which is the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement.

 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Romans 5:10

As I observed the Luke 2:14 passage, I remembered something that I noted in an earlier post about the verse, specifically the words, “with whom He is pleased.” It is important to understand here that God’s mercy is available to all who please Him, or as one commentary explains, all who follow His will by believing in/accepting His Son, Jesus.2

  • With whom is God pleased?
  • How often do we declare, like the angels, declarations of praise and worship toward God?
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, my heart rejoices at the peace you have brought to me through Jesus! He truly is my Prince of Peace! May I, like the angel, tell others about Jesus and how to find Him. May I, like the heavenly hosts who appeared to the shepherds, be found giving You the praise and worship You alone are worthy of. May the peace that comes from Christ rule in my heart, for Your Word says that as members of Your body, we are called to live in peace. 💜 – Amen

The More We Know

So, what did Luke mean when he write: with whom is God pleased?” According to Bibleref.com: Most translations of this verse connect the “peace” being proclaimed to God’s pleasure with a certain group. This is alternately phrased as “those with whom he is pleased,” “those on whom his favor rests,” or “people He favors.” The King James translation inverts part of the phrase, indicating a broader “good will toward men.” While the gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of reconciliation and hope (John 3:16–17), that hope is only accessible to those who believe in Him (John 3:18, 36). Accurately translated, the angels are not declaring God’s benevolence to all humanity; they are celebrating His mercy to those who follow His will by accepting His Son (John 6:28–29; Hebrews 11:6).

  1. Online source: churchleaders.com ↩︎
  2. Bibleref.com ↩︎

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Christmas, Devotion, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Rejoice

A Humble Birth

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Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Luke 2:1-20; 2 Cor. 8:9; Phil 2:5-11

9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

2 Cor. 8:9

Jesus was a king, but He did not come wearing a crown, nor was one placed on His head at birth. Instead, the One who was born to save His people from their sins and rule as King forever was born in a humble setting and laid in a lowly manger. As Paul wrote, Jesus became poor so that we might become rich – everything was just as God had meant it to be.

This is the perfect illustration of the second passage for today’s journey, where Paul wrote about Jesus as “one who was rich but became poor for the sake of believers- so that we through His poverty might become rich.” While these words were written to the Corinthian believers, who needed to be reminded of a commitment that they had made to meet the needs of suffering Christians in Jerusalem, they are a fitting reminder for us that Jesus left the splendor of Heaven for a world of poverty, filled with sin, suffering, and death. – Why would anyone do this? Well, not just anyone would – but Jesus did it in obedience to God – of whom John wrote – “loved the world” so much so “that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16).” We are forever rich because Jesus became poor for us. Ours is a richness not found in the world but in the love, grace, and mercy of God, our Father, who is in Heaven.

“He did this in order to die for the sins of humanity so that all who trust in Him can be forgiven of their sin and one day experience the wealth and security of living in glory with God.” Bibleref.com/2 Cor 8:9

Prayer of Response to the Word

Father, thank You for Your lavish gift of love through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Your Son. Through Him, I have been given the hope of eternity with You, and there is no greater wealth than this! – Amen

The More We Know

Where was Jesus born? Check out these enlightening details here.

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The Demonstration of His Power

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based on the LGG Study, Rejoice–Celebrating the Season of Advent

Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey/Luke 1:51-53; James 4:6-10; Revelation 3:17-20

His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
    He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones
    and exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away with empty hands.

Luke 1:51-53

I love that Mary’s song is not just filled with praise but with hope. As she recounts the goodness and faithfulness of God in the past, she not only receives hope in the promises yet to be fulfilled through Christ, but she gives hope to all who heard her words then and to us who read them now.

Sometimes, we find ourselves in hopeless or startling situations. Whether it is ongoing health issues, aging parents, financial crises, or the various needs of life, along with relationship troubles and so much more … the world is filled with hopelessness. So, when I read this more than-familiar passage, I rejoiced as I realized with a fresh understanding of her words – that Mary’s song is not simply filled with praise but with hope – as she reminds us that “God is against the proud, arrogant, and self-sufficient but helps the humble – He brings down the rich and mighty while lifting up the poor and hungry.”1

“Mary makes many allusions to the Old and New Testaments (such as Isa 9:6-7 and Rev. 19:11-15 and 21:1-5) – so that God is praised for both the past and how the coming child will accomplish these things in the future.” – Bibleref.com

Read it again, and note how Mary recounts the goodness and faithfulness of God in the past; in doing so, she gives hope to the promises that have yet to be fulfilled through Christ. Note the “He has” phrases: He has demonstrated power with His arm…He has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts… He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and …has lifted up those of lowly position… He has filled the hungry with good things and … has sent the rich away empty. Clearly, the victory belongs to the Lord, and knowing/remembering this truth is always a strength for the soul of a child of God.

Do you ever feel hopeless? Turn your concerns and fears or anxieties into praises to God. He will fill you with peace, and others around you will see God at work in you. 🦋

Prayer of Response to the Word

Father, without Your mercy, there would be no hope – We look to You – who You are, what You have done, and what You have promised and we find hope because we see that You are a good and faithful Father – and I praise You, Amen 💜

  1. Love God Greatly Journal, Rejoice/p113 ↩︎

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

To Fear or Not to Fear

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based on the LGG Study, Rejoice – Celebrating the Advent of Christ

Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Luke 1:49-50 and 12:1-8; Heb 12:25-29

from generation to generation He is merciful to those who fear Him.

Luke 1:50
Observations and Applications from Our Journey

The long and short of it is this … my sins deserved death, and nothing I do or say can change that. But, in love, God sent His Son – who knew no sin – to die for me so that my sins might be covered by His blood. There is no greater love, there is no richer mercy – and they flow deep and wide from generation to generation to those who “fear Him.”

To Those Who Fear Him…

After reading today’s passages, all of which mention or elude to “fearing God,” one thought came to mind: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This, of course, led me on a little “Scripture squirrel hunt.” which began in Proverbs 9:10, where we read: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” For those of you who know me, you know the hunt didn’t stop there. Because, – while I knew that the basic meaning of fearing God is reverential awe, I wanted to know more and see how/if this thought that had now captivated my mind intertwined with our journey today.

My journal page was quickly filled with notes from my own thoughts, to quotes from gotquestions.org and other verses that came to mind. Most of which, I will attempt to convey here, for the greatest impression I hold from the hunt is this vital truth: “Without the fear of the Lord, we make final decisions based on our faulty human understanding.”

Without the fear of the Lord, we make decisions based on our faulty human understanding (Proverbs 3:5–6). When we incorporate the fear of the Lord into every moment of our lives, we make decisions based upon His approval. We live with the knowledge that the Creator of the universe is intimately involved in our every move. He sees, knows, and evaluates all our choices, and we will answer to Him (Psalm 139:1–4).

Our respect for God’s majesty causes us to honor Him (Psalm 29:2). Our gratitude for His mercy causes us to serve Him well (Psalm 2:11; 107:15). And the understanding that our God of love is also a God of wrath inspires enough fear to help us stay away from evil (Romans 1:18; Proverbs 8:13). Sin is foolish; righteousness is wise. When we live righteously, we are on the path to wisdom, and everyone in our lives benefits (Proverbs 13:20; 19:8).

So, if fear is vital to our Christian walk, it stands to reason that we must understand what it means to fear Him. As gotquestions.or points out, “‘In the Bible, the word translated ‘fear’ can mean several things.” The commentary gives examples of each and concludes that “The fear of the Lord is a combination of all of these.”

  • The terror one feels in a frightening situation (Deuteronomy 2:25).
  • It can mean “respect” in the way a servant fears his master and serves him faithfully (Joshua 24:14).
  •  Fear can also denote the reverence or awe a person feels in the presence of greatness (Isaiah 6:5).

Those who fear the Lord have a continual awareness of Him, a deep reverence for Him, and sincere commitment to obey Him.

gotquestions.org

So, how do we live with a continual awareness of God? How do we maintain a deep reverence for Him and sincerely commit to obeying Him? I believe the answer lies not just in knowing who God is but in being in a relationship with Him. When we ‘walk and talk’ with God daily, we will know what pleases Him and what does not. We will make decisions based on how He feels about something rather than our own understandings and desires.

Our respect for God’s majesty causes us to honor Him (Psalm 29:2). Our gratitude for His mercy causes us to serve Him well (Psalm 2:11; 107:15). And the understanding that our God of love is also a God of wrath inspires enough fear to help us stay away from evil (Romans 1:18; Proverbs 8:13). Sin is foolish; righteousness is wise. When we live righteously, we are on the path to wisdom, and everyone in our lives benefits (Proverbs 13:20; 19:8).

gotquestions.org

To be clear, the ‘fear’ believers are to have of God is not one of terror in the sense that we are terrified to approach Him, but we must understand and respect the fact that while He is a God of love, He is also a God of wrath- Jesus makes this clear in the words found in Luke 12:5-7, where we read: But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. 6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid(of man)*; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

*But Jesus has told believers not to fear these hypocrites. At their very worst, they can only kill the body. Instead, they ought to fear a God who will mete out eternal death to those who refuse to repent. It is God who will send sinners to hell, and it is God who knows every sparrow (Luke 12:1–6).

Bibleref.com/Luke 12:7

If you have not placed Your faith in Jesus Christ, I urge you not to wait. For as the passages of today’s journey point out, God delivered judgment on those who ignored His warnings. As the journey revealed today, it is even more foolish to ignore the warning from Christ and the invitation of His Gospel message to believe in Him and be saved from death to everlasting life. (Jn 3:18 and Romans 6:23) If you would like to know more about the journey from death to life, check out “Know These Truths”

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, Holy is Your name. You are a God of love and of wrath, both welcoming us into Your presence and imposing a sentence of death on all who do not come to You through faith in Jesus Christ. I praise You, Lord of Heaven and Earth, that I do not have to tremble before You but can enter into Your courts with praise and bow before You in reference and awe of who You are and what You’ve done. I pray for those who are lost to hear the truth from Your Word and turn to You in faith, receiving life over death – Amen

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

Because He Has …

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based on the LGG Study, Rejoice, Celebrating the Season of Advent

Scripture: God’s Road Map For Our Journey / Luke 1:46-49; Matt 11;25-30;1 Cor 1:18-31

because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

Luke 1:48-49
Observations and Applications of the Journey

Just in case you’re thinking, ‘Wait, didn’t we just read this yesterday?’ and wondering if I put down the wrong reference … yes, we did read this yesterday, and no, I did not give you the wrong passage for today’s journey. We will actually be reading portions of Luke 1 throughout the week, ingraining into our minds and hearts the rich history of our Savior, born of a virgin, a lowly handmaid, to save an undeserving people. Why? Because, as Mary said, “God has looked upon the humble state of His servant…” and “because God who is mighty has done great things for us, and holy is His name.”

And Mary said,

“My soul exalts the Lord,
47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,
48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.
For from now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

Luke 1:46-49. NET

You see, Mary boasted in the Lord because she realized that God did not have to choose her. He could have chosen a woman of nobility, but instead, He chose her, a lowly handmaid/servant, to carry His Son – The Messiah – into the world. I don’t believe that Mary was looking down on or belittling herself here; I believe she was looking up to her God. Mary hadn’t just heard the words of the angel, Gabriel; she had believed them and given great thought to them. She considered what they meant about God, about herself, and about what it meant for the world both then and for the generations yet to come. So, when Elizabeth proclaims how blessed Mary is, Mary responds by exalting the Lord and rejoicing in Him because He is mighty and He has done great things for her. As was mentioned in the previous post, this is not about Mary, and she realizes it – this is about God and what He has done for her. Friends, we would be wise to realize this same truth in our own life.

After reading/dwelling on this for a bit, I was hit by a barrage of questions in my mind. They are both challenging and convicting to me – but such is the word of God: “For it is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.”1 I am confident the Holy Spirit prodded me with these questions because I needed to hear them, but perhaps someone else needs to consider them as well.

  • IF I WERE TO LIST THE GREAT THINGS GOD HAS DONE, WOULD THE LIST START WITH AND CENTER AROUND HIM OR ME?
  • WOULD OTHERS FACTOR INTO THE LIST OF THOUGHTS?
  • DOES MY SOUL MAGNIFY/EXALT THE LORD?
  • DOES MY SPIRIT REJOICE IN GOD, MY SAVIOR?
  • DO I REALIZE MY “LOWLY ESTATE” AND UNDERSTAND HIS GREATNESS?
  • DO I UNDERSTAND THAT HE HAS CHOSEN ME TO CARRY HIS SON’S MESSAGE TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD?

Have you, like Mary, come to know how exalted and holy God is? Do you know how small and sinful you are in comparison, and how much mercy and grace He has poured on you through His Son, Jesus Christ? Think about it: the infinitely great and perfect God has chosen you to be His beloved daughter. He has lifted you out of your sin and depravity. He has promised you eternal glory in heaven by your faith in Jesus. You are highly valued and infinitely loved by Him. May we, like Mary, rejoice in God’s holiness.

Rejoice Journal / p105
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Holy Lord, most holy Lord – You alone are worthy of my praise! Like Mary, I am captivated by Your beauty and filled with joy in Your presence. I do not forget who I was and how You have changed me from the inside out – making me a new creation in Christ Jesus. Because of Your love and mercy, I have been set free from condemnation. Because of Your grace, I have been set free from the chains of sin and the fears that once bound me. There is no end to Your faithfulness and no boundaries to Your greatness! Of this, I am certain, and therefore, I have hope. – Amen

The More We Know about the journey

Instead of being scared of this mighty, exalted, and holy God, Mary was captivated by His beauty and filled with joy in His presence. His greatness has not kept Him from doing great things for her. God could have chosen the daughter of the king or high priest to give birth to Jesus. He could have chosen a girl who was rich, beautiful, educated, and admired. But, unlike us, God is not impressed by these attributes. Mary herself says that she was a “humble state”, meaning she was probably a nobody in her community, overlooked by the important people, an insignificant servant. And yet, the holy God chose her, a peasant girl from Nazareth, to be the mother of the Messiah. Mary was amazed that God would be so great and yet see somebody as low as her.

Love God Greatly, Rejoice Journal / p105

How do you see yourself? Do you think more of yourself than you should? Or do you see yourself in light of God’s greatness and realize your “humble state”? – Consider the words of Paul in Romans chapter twelve, verse three: Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Paul understood that unless we see ourselves as we truly are, we will struggle to trust that we can do what He has gifted/called us to do. – I encourage/urge you to click here to read the commentary by bibleref.com for Romans 12:3 – it’s a game-changer you won’t want to miss.

The Truth About Our Journey

God used Mary to deliver Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, into the world. Through Jesus, we are given the opportunity to have a relationship with the great and holy God that Mary proclaimed in her beautiful song of praise. Do you know know Him today? If not, I invite you to read Know These Truths and find out how you can share in this life-changing faith – If you do know Him, will you please help me share these truths with others who need to know the love of Jesus?

  1. Hebrews 4;12 ↩︎
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Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

The Magnificat

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based on the 2024 LGG Advent Study, Rejoice, a Celebration of Advent

Today’s Scripture God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Luke 1: 26-56 (46-47) and 1 Peter 1:3-12

And Mary said “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Luke 1:46-47. ESV

Has anyone ever said a blessing or a prayer over you and you didn’t know what to say – other than thank you? What we read today and will focus on throughout the week is Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s blessing over her.

Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s blessing is most often referred to as the Magnificat or Mary’s Song. According to gotquestions.org, the Magnificat is a poem of praise to God for His blessing to Mary and His faithfulness to Israel.

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Luke 1:30-34. ESV

As one can only imagine, the shock and awe of the Angel’s announcement to Mary that she would give birth to the long-awaited Messiah was still ‘fresh’ in her mind. However, here in today’s passage, we read the sweet reflection of her heart and mind and see a beautiful picture of God giving her peace – as we read, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior-.”

If we stop there, we are left to wonder how this young girl, a virgin, engaged to be married and given a message that she would miraculously become pregnant and give birth to the promised Messiah, could possibly be rejoicing. Luke’s detailed account of Mary’s song answers the question as she goes on to say, “Because God has looked upon the humble state of His servant.”1

For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. Luke 1:46

Some may misconstrue Mary’s statement, “For from now on all generations will call me blessed,” to be about her, but instead, it is an acknowledgment that what God was doing through her was to be “an example of His grace for all generations.” Take a minute to reread her song; you will note that it is clearly a praise to God, a song that points people to Him – the only One worthy of our worship and able to hear/answer our prayers. 2

Today’s LGG journal entry explains Mary’s joyful praise in a beautiful way: “Mary’s heart was full of joyful praise because she looked to God, the One she knew would be with her and help her. Being full of faith, she was able to see beyond her immediate, challenging circumstances and meditate, instead, on the great deeds of God, past, present, and future. Her spirit was not filled with worries, fears, and the trifles of life. Her spirit soared above as she fixed her eyes on God, her Savior, and what He had done for her.”

Prayer of Response to the Journey

borrowed and shared from the Rejoice journal, p99

Lord, let our minds be increasingly filled with You, Your character, and Your deeds. Amen

Posted in Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

Waiting

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based on the LGG Advent Study, Rejoice / w2d1

Scripture for the Journey – Luke 2:25-32; Psalm 147:1-3(3); Isaiah 61:1-3

Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,29 “Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: 32 a light,for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Luke 2:25-32 NET

As believers, we wait today for that glorious day when Jesus will come and gather His people to meet Him in the air, but until that day – we are blessed with the presence of Jesus, Emmanuel, which means God with us1. Simeon and God’s people before him waited for the Messiah’s first coming. Keep in mind we have not been told how old Simeon is or how long he has been waiting. What we are told is that he was righteous and devout and eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. We are told that the Holy Spirit was not only upon him but had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s promised Messiah. We are told that the Spirit led him to the Temple, so he was there when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the Temple to meet the requirements of the law. Finally, we are told that Simeon had the privilege of taking Jesus in his arms, at which time he gave praise to God for the long-awaited gift that would allow him to die in peace and to see God’s salvation that had been prepared not just for the Jews but for all people. Simeon clearly understood and rejoiced in the fact that this child was the promised light sent to “give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide the feet of the people into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79).

Oh, how I love the story of Simeon, who was not only waiting but was looking for the promised Messiah, the hope and restoration of Israel, and the light that would shine for all people to see their way out of the shadow of death into the glorious light of salvation. Jesus is that light, and as our Savior, He is also the one Who has united us with God; and because of this, we know Him as the One who “heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds,” just as the Psalmist wrote about.

In full disclosure, I have grown a bit weary lately in waiting, but a fresh look at Simeon and the hope of God’s promises being fulfilled reminded me to lift up my eyes as I wait and to remember that I belong to the One Who binds up wounds and heals the brokenhearted. – Hallelujah and amen!

Prayer of Response to the Journey

God, help me to live a righteous and devout life, committed to You above all else – faithfully watching and waiting for that glorious day when Jesus will come and gather His people to meet Him in the air2. While I wait, help me to be alert and yielded to Your Spirit’s leading just as Simeon was – so that when You come, I am where You want me to be – Thank You for the hope of Your promises and for reminding me to lift my eyes up to You. Thank You that I belong to the One who binds up wounds and heals the brokenhearted. Thank You for the presence of Your Spirit with me so that I do not wait alone. Help me to follow the words of Paul and encourage others with the truths about the rapture, for these truths will help us to not grieve hopelessly but rather to anticipate the joyful celebration of being in the presence of Jesus our Lord! – In Whose name I trust and pray – Amen 💜

The More We Know