Look inside this book.Where the Bush is Burning: A Daily Devotional by [Thomas Tice]

Tag: Luke 1
A Role to Play

A Role to Play

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A Role to Play

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Luke 1:48

As we continue to consider the testimony of Mary, the mother of Jesus, we come to consider her understanding of her role in God’s Grander Scheme. Our text today indicates her understanding. She articulates the fact that God had chosen her, as a ‘lowly…maidservant’ to be the bearer of the Messiah. While she had but recently received the news of the particulars regarding her involvement in the Plan of God, her understanding of God, and her grasp of evangelical truth, enabled her to articulate her role very clearly. Simply stated, Mary understood that God had a place for her in His economy. This is an important concept for us to grasp. What was true for Mary, is also true for us. God has a Plan and Purpose for everything and everyone. He has included us in that Plan and Purpose. We have a role to play in the accomplishment of that Plan. Mary had a role to play to bring Christ, as the God-Man into the world. We have a role to play to make Christ known. We only realize that role as Christ leads us along in life. There are some effects of the role that we play which we will not understand until we gain the heavenly perspective. For the moment, it is enough for us to understand that we have a place in God’s economy. There are no vestigial organs in the Body of Christ. We all have a role to play to exalt Christ and to glorify God. He will employ us to accomplish His Purpose until the day He bring us into His Eternal Presence.

Our Wise and Sovereign God,
we rejoice that You have a plan and purpose
for everything and everyone.
We praise You that You give us a place in
Your economy whereby we may glorify You.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
‘My Savior’

‘My Savior’

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‘My Savior’

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Luke 1:47

The only person in all of human history who did not need a Savior was Jesus Christ. Every other person who has proceeded from Adam and Eve by ordinary generation has needed a Savior. Mary was no exception. Mary understood this; hence, we find her statement in the text which lies before us today. Mary understood that even though God had chosen her to be the bearer of the Savior, she was herself in need of that Savior. This is her testimony. It evidences a high level of evangelical understanding and sound theology. In this respect, we have much to glean from her testimony. This gives us a clear understanding of the need of humanity. ‘There is none righteous; no, not one.’ We all stand in need of a Savior. There is only one Savior and Christ is that Savior. Mary understood that from what God had revealed to her. She relied upon ‘God my Savior.’ It is utterly the same for us.  Christ is the only antidote for our sin-sickness. Apart from Him there is no Mediator, no way to God, and no salvation. Christ Himself declared it, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.‘ If we understand this clearly, we will fly to Christ, place all our faith in Christ, cling to Christ, and rest in Christ. This will bring us both peace and joy. Our testimony then will be the same as Mary’s, ‘My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.’

Our Gracious Master and Our God,
we rejoice in Christ our Savior.
We praise You that He has done all things well
and that by Him, we are redeemed, and that forever.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

Magnify The Lord

Magnify The Lord

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Magnify The Lord

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord….

Luke 1:46

Yesterday, we began to consider the testimony of Mary, as she expresses it in the passage of Scripture we have come to call, the Magnificat. Here we find the clear testimony of one child of God, saved by Free and Sovereign Grace. We want to take a little time to dwell more fully on the various points she makes in her articulation of both her theology and her experience. Today, let us spend a few minutes on Mary’s statement, ‘My soul doth magnify the Lord.’ Here is a clear statement of Mary’s understanding of sound theology and of the practical implications of that theology. She begins with God and glorifies Him. We find this approach altogether consistent with the answer to the first question of the Shorter Catechism:  ‘What is man’s chief end? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.’ Mary understood this and articulated it simply and eloquently. Our life needs to be lived on the basis of great truth that is simply stated. Mary grasped this kernel of truth. We want to be as wise as she was. It enables us with sound theology and good understanding to live life. It brings us to, ‘whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.’ This understanding, put into practice, will permeate all our living. As we daily look to Christ, He will enable us to live in such a manner as to magnify Him by life and lip.

Our Gracious and Kind God,
we rejoice that You have given us the great privilege of magnifying You.
We praise You that we will continue to exercise
this privilege throughout all eternity.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
One Believer’s Testimony

One Believer’s Testimony

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One Believer’s Testimony

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Luke 1:46-47

We come to consider the testimony of Mary, the mother of Christ. Unpleasantly, Mary has become a subject of controversy because of the perspectives of different traditions and the way in which they have treated her. What can we draw from the words of the woman herself? Although she bears the description of ‘a simple peasant woman,’ we find that she reflects a clear apprehension of God, His Ways, and His Purposes. She also understood her role in His Scheme. She also understood who and what she was. Her testimony reveals this. She begins, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord.’ By this she indicates that she understands that her chief end is to glorify God. She begins, not with herself, but with Him. She goes on to declare, ‘my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.’ Although she had but recently learned His Name, yet she could already articulate His role. Simply put, Mary was resting her soul and the hope of her salvation in the Christ Whom she would shortly bear. This is a great encouragement to us. Her testimony is, in many ways, our testimony. We live daily to ‘magnify the Lord’ and our spirit rejoices in God our Savior. Mary’s spiritual experience was Christ-centered. Our experience is Christ-centered as well. Today let us dwell upon these aspects of our relationship with Christ and find our hearts drawn out after Him.

Our Great God and Our Savior,
we rejoice in the testimony of Your People.
We praise You that You have saved us by Free and Sovereign Grace,
and that, as the redeemed of the Lord, we can say so.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

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