“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” – Luke 1:46-47
The Magnifying Soul
Mary does a lot of singing after she hears from the angel. Her womb is filled with divinity and her heart is filled with praise.
The scripture says that, “Mary said,” but it is hard to her imagine that she did not say it in melody.
She said that her soul magnified the Lord. Soul is life, the totality of life, all of it. It is one’s body and mind in complete integration with one’s energy, personality, motivation, and action. Mary gave everything she had and everything she was to magnifying the Lord.
Not only did her soul magnify God, but her spirit rejoiced in Him. Joy is the very heart and soul of the Christmas mood.
“Merry Christmas!”
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come!”
“God rest ye, merry gentlemen!!
Mary got it and she carried that spirit to Bethlehem and beyond as she kept her memories and pondered them in her heart.
Why the songs of Christmas in the heart of Mary? Why the magnification of the Lord? Why the rejoicing?
Mary answered the question herself. He, God, had regarded the low estate of His handmaiden.
In the coming of Jesus, God regards our low estate and takes on our humanity. He walks with us and He identifies with us. He dies for us and leads us from death into a procession of life.
How can we keep from joining Mary in her song? Let us gather around the manger with rejoicing and magnify the Lord this day!
These words were written as church bulletin devotional for churches who offer Master Sunday Bulletins to their congregations. May it serve as a source of encouragement to you today. You are welcome to copy this devotion for one-time non-commercial, local church, or educational use. Please include the copyright line printed below with any reproduction. © Master Sunday Bulletins 2012. All rights reserved. Published by Master Sunday Bulletins · Merri V. Dennis, Publisher · Thomas B. Sims, Author