And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.” Luke 1:46-48 ESV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

Throughout December we will be looking at different parts of the Christmas story. Last week we looked at some of the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah, Jesus. This week we see Mary after the angel Gabriel has revealed to her that she will “bear a son” and he “will be called the Son of the Most High.”

Mary sings a song of praise to the Lord. Her “soul magnifies the Lord.” Magnify means to make great or enlarge. We can’t make God greater, but we can offer praise, like Mary, for all the great and wonderful things God has done for us. We can praise and magnify the Lord in our own lives.

Our second verse is very well known. How many of us can recite this one from memory? Also, it gives us another reason to magnify our God. God loved the world, each and every one of us, so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, into the world as a man to save us, to draw us closer to God, the Father. Praise to the Father

This Christmas season share your testimony and your praises for all that the Lord has done for you. Magnify the Lord! Invite each person in your family to share and praise God for one thing that God has done for them this year.

I want to praise God for a new addition to our family, a granddaughter, who will soon be 6 months old. I praise God for Jesus, sent from heaven, born of Mary, to offer salvation and eternal life for all who believe in Him. I praise and magnify our Lord for His everlasting love and all the blessings of family and friends, peace and joy, and abundant life!

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we magnify our Lord along with Mary this Christmas season.

Blessings and joy in the Lord!