Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Magnificat

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Revelation 12:1-10
A great and wondrous sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.

Then another sign appeared in the sky: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth.

She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.

And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down."

This imagery is vivid and overwhelming. A woman giving birth is rooted to her birthing place. She goes nowhere. The dragon's mouth drips with lust and readiness, and she can do nothing. Its teeth shine in the light reflected from her clothes. Does she know that all the angels of God stand behind her? She pushes, and the baby is born, and her wailing fills the sky.

With great courage Mary said to Gabriel, "May it be done to me according to your word." She opened the door of suffering, which in turn became the doorway to the kingdom of God.

In Walter Wangerin's Jesus a Novel, Mary tries to hold on to her son after his death and resurrection. If not her son, then nothing. She wishes to be called Mariah now, which means "bitterness." Like Jesus, she wonders why God has forsaken her. But as her grief takes its course she slowly discovers peace that passes understanding, the peace that came from allowing "it be done" to her.

Meanwhile the war drags on. In another of his writings, the author of Revelation wrote, "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5).

John ends his first letter with a short admonition: "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." Rather watch the war, know the enemy and secure yourself in the knowledge of the Lord. God is good, God is good, God is always good. Do not be afraid.

When I live in your shelter, Lord, I will trust you and you will save me from hunters and plague. You cover me with strength and shield and faithfulness. So I do not fear terrors and darkness and arrows that fly in silence. Death does not come today, not in the shadow of your wings. (Psalm 91)

Devotions Archive

Magnificat

Saturday, December 12, 2009