His Power Highlights His Mercy

God’s gift is personal to all those who recognize their sinfulness and turn to Him in faith.   ~~~   In order to live a life that magnifies the Lord, our worship must be God-centered. We see this in Mary’s song. Worship is a response to the truth of who God is. It is a response to His attributes. Luke 1:46b-50 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” Did you notice what prompted Mary’s song? Mary is singing because, she says, the Lord has “looked upon her humble estate.” The word for “look” means to look attentively with the implication of personal care. She is responding to the fact that God has seen her humble estate and saved her from it. Now when she says, “humble estate,” she is not referring to her disposition of humility, or her kindness. She is talking about her nothingness and unworthiness, her insignificance. He has saved me from the nothingness that I am. He has saved me from my ruin. Clif, how do you know this is what she is talking about? Well, look at how she contrasts herself with God. She is humble, poor, weak, unworthy, but God is mighty and strong and “holy is His name.” Do you see this? Here is a God who is all powerful yet He is still merciful. His power highlights his mercy. And Mary understands this. She knows the gulf that exists between her and God. She knows Job 26 that says we have only seen the outskirts of His power and have only heard Him whisper, and yet in all that power and strength and authority and sovereignty He stills does great things “for me.” But she goes on from there. It is not only personal to Mary, it is available to all those who fear Him. In other words, all those who recognize who God is and who they are in light of who God is, who turn to God in repentance and faith. And he does this through His Son, Jesus. God’s mercy is available through Jesus. And He will save all who fear Him rightly. We have reason to echo Mary—My soul magnifies the Lord. Magnify the Lord! The sky is not telling the story of the hottest sports team. Magnify the Lord! The sun is not radiating the glory of the latest blockbuster movie! Magnify the Lord! The earth is not shouting about your fame. Magnify the Lord!