Luke the physician wrote how Mary was visited by the “angel Gabriel” and was told she would have a child who was to be the Lord. Her cousin Elisabeth was also pregnant in her old age. After Elisabeth blessed Mary, “Mary said, My soul does magnify the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He has showed strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent empty away”, and in chapter one and verse fifty-four of his book Luke shared how Mary says, “he has helped his servant Israel” where we read:
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
The verse reads, “He has helped his servant Israel, ...” Luke began with the words, “he has helped” or “God has laid hold of, embraced and succored” “his servant” which means “God's attendant or minister” “Israel” which refers to “the family or descendants of Jacob whose name means he shall be a prince of God”. Luke shared how God “helped” his “attendants” whom Mary said was “Israel”.
The verse goes on to say “in remembrance of his mercy;” Luke continued with the words, “in remembrance” which means “recalling and bringing to mind” “of his mercy” or “pertaining to God's kindness and goodness”. Luke shared how God helping Israel would remind them of His “goodness and kindness”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how Mary recognized how God “helping” Israel would remind them of His “goodness”. Paul the apostle wrote, “Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (See Romans 2:4). God is “good”, and because He sent His Son Jesus to be the “Savior” of the world, not only “Israel” would know His “mercy”, but also every person who yields their life to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how Mary says God has, “spoken to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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