(Audio)
The LORD gives himself to us so that we can give ourselves back to him.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.
On our own our love is barren, unable to bear fruit. The LORD has a proven history of making desert lands fruitful. He wants to do so for us. That said, we must remember that the point of the fruit is not so much for the enjoyment of the tree from which it grows as for those who receive it. The LORD makes us yield an abundant harvest. We need to offer it back to him to use as he wills or else it will have no purpose but to fall to the ground and rot.
Mary knew that it was God who had given her the blessings that Elizabeth perceived in her. She did not accept to simply be praised as a beautiful tree with beautiful fruit. Rather she gave thanks to the one from whom all of her blessings flow. She praised the one from whom comes every good and perfect gift (see James 1:17)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
Many of us stop here. We say thank you and then go our own way. But neither Hannah nor Mary would stop there. Rather they insisted that the fruit given by God would be given back to him and used by him for something greater still.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Hannah's fruit was multiplied because she didn't keep it for herself alone. Mary's fruit, because she selflessly offered Jesus back to God, became the fulfillment of all of the many promises of the Scriptures.
So what are the gifts we have been given? Are we content to simply use them as a matter of convenience and to say an occasional thank you or do we rather actively and consciously seek to put them at the disposal of God? Do we ask him what he wants us to do with our fruit and then follow the guidance which he never fails to offer?
He raises the needy from the dust;
from the dung heap he lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.
No comments:
Post a Comment