Great things in you...

Last week, my Advent readings were all about the cost of the call, and I reflected on the huge price that young Mary paid to be the mother of Jesus. My Bible reading this morning - in Luke chapter 1 verses 39 - 56 - shows the other side of the coin: Mary is overwhelmed and joyful at the incredible privilege of being chosen and used by God. She sees it as a blessing, not a burden, and she even begins to grasp that future generations will probably call her blessed, even if people in her present generation were going to judge her and believe her to be promiscuous. Her relative, Elizabeth, confirms this by saying to her, "Blessed are you among women," and young Mary begins to sing a spontaneous song of praise to the Lord.

In English, her words in vs 49 are translated as, "The Mighty One has done great things for me," but this morning I noticed that my Spanish Bible says, "El Todopoderoso ha hecho en mí grandes cosas"  - the All-Powerful One has done great things in me.

And there's a definite difference here in meaning and implication. If the Lord has done great things for Mary, it might mean that people stop judging her for the pregnancy… but doing great things in her could mean that He gave her the strength and grace to rise above the shame. Doing great things for her might mean amazing provision - like a home, a husband and plenty of financial resources. Great things in her could mean giving her the ability to live in simplicity and with thankfulness, and even that she was willing to risk the possibility of living with extended family and raising her son as a single mum.

Great things for me could be evidenced by miraculous physical healing, while great things in me could be the grace and strength to live a fulfilled life in spite of physical limitations and pain. Great things for me could mean provision of a fancy car and a lovely house, while great things in me might be the evidence of a thankful spirit, even if having no home of my own, and needing to travel by bike or bus. Great things for me might be the provision of many and rich friendships around me, while great things in me could be the immeasurable privilege of discovering that God is enough and that you are never truly alone when you know Him.

Father, as one year draws to an end and a new year lies ahead, my prayer is that you would do great things IN me, and that this will always be more important to me than the things you do for me. None of us knows what lies ahead for us in 2015, but may I able to praise you at the end of next year by saying, The Powerful One has done great things in me. Holy is His name!