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The True Christmas Spirit - Luke 1:46-55 (Part 3)

Mary's Worship continued...

Habitual Worship (3/4)

In the text we have been looking at, the verbs used are 'magnifies' and 'rejoices'.  There are present, ongoing tenses of these verbs.  If you know Jesus Christ as your savior, you don't rejoice only when you are saved.  Salvation is when you start rejoicing and then never stop.  Yes, bad things will happen to a Christian in your life, but our worship is to be consistent.  John MacArthur says, "Fluctuating circumstances do not impact true worship.  They don't affect it.  They don't have anything to do with it.  It flows uninterrupted." 

When we truly start worshipping God our savior, it becomes a way of life.  It's constant and consistent because it's not fixed on the economy, our finances, or our successes, but it's fixed on God who never changes.  Christ never changes, salvation never changes, God's promises and covenants never change, and His spirit never leaves us.  Since those things never change, why should our worship? 

Here's the poem from Part 1 again:  "Christmas is a bitter day for mothers who are poor.  The wistful eyes of children are daggers to endure.  Though shops are crammed with playthings, enough for everyone, if a mother's purse is empty, there might as well be none."  Then ended with, "My purse is full of money, but I cannot buy a toy, only a wreath of holly for the grave of my little boy."  As sad and tragic as this is, look at what the hope of the mother is in; the season, money, toys (possessions), and family.  All of these are changing or can change in an instant.  Seasons constantly change.  Our financial situation can be changed overnight through a major expense, illness or job loss.  Toys and possessions can be destroyed or stolen.  And sadly, family may let us down or pass away.  The one constant that we have in this world is God our Savior.

When does worship happen in your life?  When things are going well, when you get what you want, when you're happy about world or life events, or when you're comfortable with your situation?  If it takes these things happening, that that's not true worship because it's based on fluctuating circumstances.  If your attitude and demeanor change based on circumstances, it's because you have allowed yourself to become attached to something other than the word of God and the presence of Christ.  Your joy becomes attached to circumstances instead of God, which means your focus is no longer on God, but on yourself. 

And for the record, I stepped on my own toes reading, studying and writing this one.  But true worshippers go through life with a constant state of contentment and joy.  Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? 

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