God Wants Justice, Mercy, and Our Humility -Advent 4 (2019)

At the Annunciation—the angel’s proclamation from God to Mary about her becoming the mother of the Messiah—have you ever stopped to think about how Mary was reflecting back to God the beautiful Image of God in her? “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). Mary displayed immediate humility, but when fully expounded in her song, it is clear that Mary understood what God wants from us all in terms of justice, mercy, and humility.

“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me– holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” (Luke 1:46-55)

Think about it:

Read back over Mary’s song. How does she reflect back to God His Image in her? Why does reflecting God’s Image bring glory to Him?
Read Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
How can you reflect God’s Image in you back to Him today? What actions can you take?

What God wants for Christmas is… Justice, Mercy, and Our Humility

Dear Lord, We thank You for being a just and merciful God, for Your forgiveness and grace, and for not giving us what we deserve, but instead sending us a Savior. We honor You, Lord Jesus, as our Messiah and Savior, born in Bethlehem, for a Cross, and rising victorious to live forever in Your rightful Kingdom upon the throne You have planned as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Grant that we would always remember our lowly place and have hearts of gratitude as we reflect back to You what You want: justice, mercy, and our displaying the humility of Christ. We are forever grateful, Lord, and glorify You this day and always. Amen.

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Join me beginning December 1, 2019 by signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page to receive these daily devotionals. Let’s enjoy exploring what might be on God’s Christmas list.

Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:

Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2018) Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.