Joy Nugget #21: Two Stories, One Story

Both Hannah and Mary utter words of praise for God’s kindness to them individually as well as express a connection to God’s broader plan for His people. They didn’t have nearly all the puzzle pieces of salvation of inform them that we do, but the object of their hope is rooted in…

-“He will exalt His anointed” …the Messiah

-“He remembers His promises to the Fathers”—“He will give this Him the throne of His Father David, a kingdom without end.” …the King

Here is what I take away from this:

I have much to learn about their personal lives, how they soaked themselves in the goodness of God to them. But, it is not enough to rehearse how God been good to me alone. (This seems something we are pretty good at in the West—“God loves ME.”) It is important, and my view is lop-sided without it. But if I am not connecting my heart to a deeper longing for the coming of the Messiah for all peoples of all times, then my worship and rejoicing can only go so far.

There is a bigger story that all of God’s people have a part in. Hannah played a part. Mary played a part. You and I play a part. We are all on the same timeline, woven into the same tapestry. We rejoice not just because we soak in His love for ‘me’, but also because we see the wonder of our tiny little part in God’s bigger plan—to bring together a people of every nation and tongue, and every generation of history to His eternal Home, to be their Shepherd, Messiah, King and Father forever. Rejoice!