The Power of Inspired Confirmation

Scripture:
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.

Luke 1:46-48

Observation: Mary's song goes on, acknowledging God's sovereign authority over the world, and his long-term deliverance of Israel through history. However, here it starts personal. Mary is delighted that the Lord is there to care for her.

This is shocking in the context of Mary's situation. She is effectively in a situation perilous to her life, pregnant out of wedlock. Nothing about her circumstance changed when she arrived to see Elizabeth except for one detail ... someone else actively acknowledged to her that the child within her is the Lord. Elizabeth declares blessing on Mary, and calls her "the mother of my Lord" (v43) understanding that Mary's child is Messiah. Elizabeth knows this because she herself trusts the message of the Lord, who declared that her own child would be filled with the Holy Spirit before it was even born (prior reading, Luke 1:15).

Yesterday, Mary was a willing servant despite the dangers. Today, she is celebrating and declared 'blessed' ... Elizabeth calls her blessed, and Mary immediately adopts that mantle. And nothing has changed. Her danger remains. However, she is now confirmed by another believer, who is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and this is cause of song.

Application: I have been thinking a lot lately that I have very few people with whom I 'walk' in the Christian life. My wife for certain, but almost no one else. I do need to change this, as it is so important for believers to have confirmation, assistance, support, and affirmation. I need this, and perhaps more importantly I can be that to others.

I can support others - and be supported - when I am both leaning in to listen to the Holy Spirit, and in community with believers who are discussing God's movement in our lives. We aren't talking about anything as profound as giving birth to Jesus, but we can be talking about ... challenges and hardships in our lives, opportunities to bless our community, and joys to celebrate. I need to engage in that community, for the benefit of others, and myself.

Prayer: Lord, you know I continue to consider how I can improve my engagement in your family of believers. I seek your direction in this, deciding where I should be. You have, in fact, been mindful of your humble servants, including myself, and I seek to love others as you have loved them. Amen.