Joy Overflowing Series

What Mary did know, and what she confessed in this magnificent paean of praise, was that the God Who reigns on high was at work, and she recognised that He was working in the world because He was working in her life. Mary’s confession holds true for each of us. If we are followers of the Son of God, we must know that God reigns on high and He does work, especially working for our good. This knowledge calls to mind the words Jesus spoke, “My Father is working until now, and I am working” [JOHN 5:17].

Here is a truth that must be acknowledged: there is nothing in you, nothing in your makeup, nothing in your life, that could ever make God love you. If you received what you deserve, God would condemn you to eternal banishment from His presence. And yet, if you are a follower of the Risen Saviour, God has already worked effectively in your life to deliver you from judgement, bringing you into His family. From the point at which He saved you, the Lord has been working in your life. And He will continue that work until the Day of Christ. Remember that the Apostle has spoken of this truth when he wrote the saints in Philippi. “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” [PHILIPPIANS 1:6].

Perhaps we should take a moment to think about what it means when I speak of God intervening to bless His people. I am fully aware that there exists a weird genre of thought among some professed followers of the Master that is prepared to argue that we will never have a problem if we have enough faith. This bizarre teaching has become popular among some who claim to follow the Saviour. These benighted souls attempt to promote the idea that if the Christian ever experiences difficulties or passes through trials, it is his own fault because he didn’t have enough faith. The teaching is nothing less than a religious fairy tale. Those who buy into this despicable teaching are at best willingly deceived, and at worse deluded. This strange teaching has gained popularity in our day, primarily among people who are focused on the material aspects of contemporary life.

I recall a dear friend who united with the congregation I was pastoring at that time. One Sunday I was unable to deliver the message I had planned because of severe laryngitis. I had no voice, and my throat was raw. This dear lady phoned to let me know that she was praying for me. However, as she spoke, she stated that I just needed to rebuke the laryngitis in the Name of the Lord. She anthropomorphised the illness, or attributed it to demonic powers, implying that my faith wasn’t sufficient to gain victory.

It was only a week later that she phoned to let me know that she wouldn’t be in church on Sunday since she had a serious head cold accompanied by a raw throat. I simply said to her, “Just rebuke that cold in the Name of the Lord.”

Her response at that time was given in a pleading tone. “Oh, Pastor, please don’t make fun of me.” Her response provided opportunity to remind her of the Word given through the Apostle, who taught us, “Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people” [1 CORINTHIANS 10:13a GNT]. I know that the test, or the temptation, that is in view is not restricted to the effects of a virus, but the effects of that virus are surely included in the statement given. Not every pain, not every ache, not every reversal of fortune that we face is something unusual and out of the ordinary.