Saturday, December 2
Read: Luke 1:51-56
Humility runs throughout this passage and through each person in this passage. Mary humbly declared herself a slave of God in response to the angel. Elizabeth humbly received Mary, even though she was in many ways a superior to Mary. Mary humbly exalted God in her song.
John the Baptist, Elizabeth’s son, carried on the family trait of humility. Although he was in a position of which people followed him, he allowed that to slip away. He was not called to be “the man,” but rather the forerunner to the Messiah. John himself said about Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Each one viewed themselves with humility because they looked at themselves from God’s perspective.
This stands to reason. As another has said, “How can anyone be arrogant when he stands beside the cross?” The cross is where our sinful pride melts away. God exalts and blesses those who, in humility, come to him, as Mary sang.
Consider: Think about the cross on which Jesus had to suffer the humiliation of this world and die because of your sin. Allow God to work on your pride in your areas of struggle. Note those areas and pray about them today. Make time tomorrow to gather with other believers to worship God together.
I Commend Joy! 