And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. (Luke 1:50-51)
Have you ever noticed? As Mary continues her song, the Magnificat, the words become more and more revolutionary. This probably isn't what we expect from the young mother of our Christmas cards, the blue-robed virgin with a sweet face and downcast eyes. But Mary is right—for Jesus' coming is going to revolutionize the world.
She sings, "The Lord's mercy is for those who fear Him," but also "He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts." What group do we fall into? Are we those who fear and love God, knowing how much we need His mercy? Or do we have proud hearts that deny we need a Savior at all?
Only one group of people will kneel at the manger to see their newborn Savior Jesus. Those who are proud will never come inside to see Him at all—after all, they believe that their own plans and schemes will be enough to get them the life they want. They will stand outside—or go away completely, still looking for their own desires.
But the humble, the broken, the needy—these are the ones who fear the Lord. They know the truth about themselves, and so they know how much they need God's mercy. Jesus is that mercy.
Let us humble our hearts and bend down and enter the room where the baby Jesus is lying. Let us kneel in the dirt and the straw at the foot of His manger. Let us feast our eyes on the proof that God, the high King of everything, truly loves us and has sent His Son to make us into God's own children. This is our Savior—not our own plans and wisdom, but God's. This is Jesus, who will one day hang on a cross for us—and then rise from the dead to give us everlasting life.
THE PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to fear and love You with our whole hearts, always glad that You have given us Jesus our Savior. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Is there one area of life where you tend to get proud or conceited? Which one?
* Based on what you know of human nature, who is closer to the truth—the person who is proud or the person who is humble?
* Why do you think so?
Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 81-83 Revelation 8
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