November 30 – Correct Magnification

“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”  Psalm 69:30 (ESV)

If we're to magnify something, how do we go about doing it? We have two options. Use a telescope which brings really big things visually closer so we can see more detail clearly. The fuzzy dot in the sky called Saturn can be seen with its distinct rings. The other option is using a microscope which makes very small things⸺even those that cannot be seen with our eye, appear much larger than they are. A minute particle is made large enough for us to see detail clearly. In our verse today, David declares that he will “magnify God” with his thanksgiving. He does not mean that he will make a small God look bigger than He is.  He does mean that he will make a big God begin to look as big as he really is. So, perhaps we are called not to be microscopes but to be telescopes. We magnify God. In doing that we bring Him closer and more visible. John Piper says this; “The whole duty of the Christian can be summed up in this: feel, think, and act in a way that will make God look as great as he really is."

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Thanks to DesiringGod by John Piper 

December 5 – Songs from the Heart

“And Mary said,  “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,”  Luke 1: 46-47 (ESV)

The traditional Christmas songs we sing at this time of the year fit into the pattern of praise which we find in the Bible there was the song of praise by the angels for the benefit of the shepherds near Bethlehem.  But several months before that, the virgin Mary sang a song which is recorded in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke.  Mary was not singing a song which she had learned and memorized.  These were not mere words she was singing just from habit.  She had experienced joy deep down in her heart.  She said she was praising God  with her soul and with her spirit.  This is the kind of praise which pleases the Lord.  Our praise, when it comes from our inner being and not simply formed with our lips is the praise that God desires.  Let's think about the meaning of the words of our Christmas songs and sing them from our heart with the purpose of magnifying our Lord Jesus.  

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