A Life of Total Commitment

Introduction

During a corporate board meeting the CEO asked his board members, “Where can I find commitment?” A shy but honest board member replied, “In the dictionary!” His answer may have been comic if it wasn’t so tragic. Commitment used to be found in the home, the workplace, schools, and in the church. But that simply is not the case anymore. The attitude of non-commitment in our day is described best by Jesus when He said, “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Mark 7:6).

Webster defines commitment as “a pledge to do, the state of being bound emotionally or intellectually to a course of action or to another person or persons.” From a biblical perspective, commitment would be defined as “a charge, a duty, a burden, an obligation or responsibility, or a must.” Commitment to spiritual things is on the decline for two basic reasons. One, unsaved people can’t commit and our churches are full of people who have never been born again. Two, saved people no longer hunger and thirst after righteousness, thus, they don’t understand the Christian life or purpose of the church.

Commitment is a part of life. Everyday people are asked to commit to something. Sometimes it is as simple as a commitment to a service plan for a cell-phone or it can be as serious as a commitment to a spouse for a life time. But life’s first greatest commitment is to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This commitment lays the foundation for all of life’s other commitments.

The Christmas story is filled with individuals committed to the Lord. Our lesson text today is taken from the events when Mary, the mother of Jesus, visited her cousin Elisabeth with the good news of the coming birth of her son. Although Mary’s cousin Elisabeth was almost 30 years older than Mary, there was a special bond between these two expectant mothers that we will study today and in next week’s lesson. There was also a common commitment in the lives of both Mary and Elisabeth.

I. Commitment and Humility (Luke 1:46-48)

The presence of pride and self-exaltation in our modern day culture is part of the reason for little or no commitment. Life for Mary was not about self-esteem, pride, or personal rights. The visit Mary received from “the angel Gabriel” (Luke 1:26) was filled with truth and promises so powerful that neither Mary nor the world would ever be the same. This young Hebrew virgin would conceive a son by the “Holy Ghost” (Luke 1:35) and “that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:36). Needless to say, Mary was overwhelmed with everything she witnessed and heard (Luke 1:28-29).

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that God’s redemptive plan rested entirely upon Mary and that she was sinless. That type of teaching and belief system is contrary to Scripture and has sent multitudes of lost souls to hell. Mary was not sinless, but she was a humble servant of the Lord who tenderly and obediently opened her heart to follow God’s plan. We see in Mary a model of commitment and a great encouragement to listen and obey the voice of God.

Question - If Mary is sinless as Roman Catholicism teaches, why does Mary refer to God as “my Saviour?” Why would a sinless woman need a Saviour?

“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” (Luke 1:46-47). The words “soul” and “spirit” (Luke 1:46-47) are synonymous and speak of the inner person. Mary is referring to her whole inner being. “Magnify” (Luke 1:46) does not mean that Mary is going to make the Lord larger in size but that she is praising and adoring Him for Who He is (Psalm 34:3; 69:30). Mary “rejoiced” in God as her Saviour which has reference to the spiritual joy she is experiencing for her part in God’s redemptive plan. She responds to God’s plan and promises by worshipping Him personally and publicly. Mary's expression of what she feels in her heart is joy (Luke 1:46-47). She mentions what God has done specifically for her as an individual (Luke 1:48-49). He “regarded her lowliness,” did great things for her, and gave her an enduring reputation for blessedness (Luke 1:48).

Mary has just been informed by “the angel Gabriel” (Luke 1:26) that God is about to change the course of human history and she has been chosen to be a part of that plan. She is so moved by that truth that she breaks forth in humble song and praise. “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaid: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). The only people who can truly be committed to the Lord are people like Mary who acknowledge their “low estate” (Luke 1:48) and are overwhelmed by the fact that God would use them in His plan. Mary’s reference to herself as “his handmaiden” (Luke 1:48) pictures her as a female slave. Liberal theologians would interpret Mary’s words as a need for her to have self-esteem and to think more highly of herself than she thought.

II. Commitment and History (Luke 1:49-55)

Mary’s commitment was not only connected to her humility, it was also connected to her understanding of God in the history of Israel (Luke 1:49-55). This section, commonly called the Magnificat, in many ways resembles Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Do you remember the story of Samuel and his mother Hannah? Hannah had no children and was abused by other women because of it, and she prayed earnestly that the Lord would give her a son. And he did. The parallels are not word for word; neither Mary nor Luke is quoting the Old Testament. Instead it seems to me that Mary is so steeped in Scripture that when she breaks out in praise, the words that come naturally to her lips are the words of Scripture. Being a young woman, she probably loved the stories of the Old Testament women of faith like Sarah, Deborah, Hannah, Ruth, and Abigail. What an admonition to us all, both women and men to saturate our minds and hearts in the Scriptures day and night so that the words and thoughts of Scripture fill our mouths as naturally as they did Mary’s.

A. God’s Goodness

The general structure of thought seems to be from the goodness of God to Mary as an individual, to His kindness to Israel as a nation. First, “for he that is mighty hath done to me great things…” (Luke 1:49) describes the way Mary has been treated by God. God selected Mary, a young virgin from an obscure village, engaged to a carpenter, to be the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. And all future generations “shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:48).

B. God’s Holiness

Second, “holy is his name” and “his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:49-50) centers the thought upon the character of God. God’s name is “holy.” That is his nature. God is completely free from sin, and his ways are not our ways. He is separate from and exalted above the creature. All his attributes are perfect, and they all operate in a perfect harmony called holiness. But what Mary stresses is the way this holiness expresses itself. And her words are a warning to us not to make the mistake that because God is great, he is partial to anyone. God's holiness has expressed itself and will express itself by exalting the lowly and bringing down those full of pride.

Any generation that fails to recognize the holiness of God will struggle with commitment.

C. God’s Mightiness

Third, Luke 1:51-53, is stated with words in past tense. “Shewed strength, scattered the proud, exalted them of low degree, filled the hungry with good things…” These activities of God are the results of the coming of the Messiah and stated by Mary as if they have already occurred. Mary sees the spiritual nature of the ministry of the child she is carrying. “He hath shewed strength with his arm” (Luke 1:51) speaks of the active justice of God. “He hath scattered the proud” (Luke 1:51) emphasizes the defeat Messiah will bring to the enemies of God. In contrast with the blessedness of those that “fear him from generation to generation,” (Luke 1:50) the “proud” the “mighty” are pictured as “scattered” like the hosts of a defeated army. The people of “low degree” (Luke 1:52) are “exalted” while the “mighty” (Luke 1:52) are “put down from their seats” (Luke 1:52). The Bible is full of stories where the people of “low degree” are exalted such as David the shepherd boy becoming King of Israel. It is clear from Mary's words that God is not partial to the rich, the powerful, or the proud.

D. God’s Kindness

Fourth, the final stanza of Mary’s recitation of God’s history with Israel is in Luke 1:54-55. These verses emphasize the faithfulness of God to his ancient promises which Mary sees fulfilled in the birth of her Son. “He hath holpen his servant Israel…” (Luke 1:54) is Mary saying, “God is helping Israel by sending Jesus Christ.” According to Matthew 15:24, Jesus’ ministry was first to the house of Israel. God sent His Son to help the nation he found wallowing in sin. Both the Old and New Testament writers magnify the truth that God’s redemptive plan was first focused on helping his chosen people.

“In remembrance of his mercy…” (Luke 1:54) signifies that the coming of Messiah to bring help and salvation was a display of God’s greatest acts of mercy. The Old Testament is filled with references to God’s mercy and historical evidences of God’s mercy. But the birth of the child Mary now carried would be God’s greatest act of mercy. “As he spake to our father, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever” (Luke 1:55) is a reference to God’s promise to send mercy. God had promised he would not forget to be merciful to Israel and Mary’s Son was proof of God’s commitment to his promises. Only in Jesus Christ can be realized all the promises to Israel and all the promises of salvation to sinful man.

Conclusion

Pride kills commitment. Mary was humble and grateful for being chosen by God to be a part of his great redemptive plan. Ignorance kills commitment. Mary was knowledgeable of God’s mighty acts and merciful promises to the nation of Israel. God gave you his Son. That is without question the greatest gift every given. Give him the gift of commitment this Christmas. Mary did!

Amen.