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The True Christmas Spirit - Luke 1:46-55 (Part 5)

The Object of Worship
We've looked at Mary's attitude of worship, but what is the object of her worship?  Mary's soul magnifies the Lord, and her spirit rejoices in God my savior.  All worship goes to God our father.  Luke 4:8 reads, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve."  In order to worship him, he has to be your savior.  If God's not our savior, if he isn't all knowing, all powerful, all present, and if he hadn't saved us through Jesus Christ, why would we be worshipping him?  No one writes hymns about hell, judgment, and condemnation.  If God was not our savior, we wouldn't be worshipping, we would be hiding in fear.


The Cause of Worship
Why are you worshipping?  As one speaker puts it, what's your why? 

We worship God because of what he does for us personally.  Mary says in verses 48 and 49 that "all generations will call me blessed", and that "he has done great things for me."  Why was Mary blessed? Because an all powerful God had done great things for this lowly sinner like me and you.  Worship begins with your personal experience of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

We worship God because of what he has done for others.  Verse 50 tells us that God's mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.  God has done good works all throughout time for both believers and non-believers.

We worship God because of what he has done for his own people.  Look at Luke 1:51-54.  God has shown strength and taken care of those who love him.  He has scattered the proud, brought down rulers, exalted rulers, fed the hungry, and helped his servants.

So what causes worship?  Salvation personally, provision generation after generation, and faithfulness of God to meet the needs of his own people.


Perhaps John Francis Wade best summed up this season and the true spirit of Christmas; "Oh come let us adore Him, Oh come let us adore Him, Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord."

Merry Christmas!

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