Be a Magnificent Mother! (051224)

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Paul indicates his desire that Christ would be magnified in his body.

As I considered the word magnified, I was led to Luke chapter 1.

In Luke chapter 1, Mary is told, by an angel, that she is going to give birth to the Messiah.

After she comes to grip with that news, we read, in vs. 46:

Luke 1:46 KJV 1900

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

Verses 46 through 55 are known as Mary’s Magnificant.

Turn to and read Luke 1:46-55.

As we read, I want you to notice Who Mary’s attention is on.

The word magnified means:

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (3486 μεγαλύνω)

3486 μεγαλύνω (megalynō): vb.; ≡ DBLHebr 1540; Str 3170; TDNT 4.543—1. LN 79.124 make large, make long, expand (Mt 23:5; 2Co 10:15+); 2. LN 33.358 praise greatness of, extol individual greatness (Lk 1:47; Ac 10:46+); 3. LN 87.15 honor highly, glorify, regard status as important (Lk 1:58; Ac 5:13; 19:17; Php 1:20+)

Magnify: To Make Large

Consider what I mean:

Tractor (1)

Tractor (2)

What did I do?

I made the tarp large.

In so doing I removed the tractor so that you couldn’t see it.

I drew your attention to the tarp.

Be a Magnificent Mother

Remember Philippians 1:20?

Paul said, …Christ shall be magnified in my body…

Exploring Ephesians & Philippians: An Expository Commentary a. His Determination (1:20)

Paul wanted to be a telescope to bring Him closer to their consciousness so they could see Him in all His glory and grace. Paul wanted to be a microscope to enlarge their vision of Christ—to make the various facets of His magnificent life manifest so that people could study Him in detail.

In Luke chapter 1, what did Mary do? She was seeking to enlarge our vision of God so that we could study Him in detail.

The world has a very small view of Who Jesus is.

According to statistics from 2022, 43% of evangelicals believe that Jesus Christ was a great teacher, but He was not God.

https://thestateoftheology.com/

Moms, you have a unique opportunity to magnify the Lord; to make Him great in the sight of others. To enlarge other’s view of Christ so that they might study Him in detail.

How might you do that? How can you be a magnificent mother?

You first must know Christ personally.

A question has constantly been coming to my mind recently; a question to ask others:

Do you know Jesus? Does He know you?

Matthew 7:21–23 KJV 1900

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Notice what Paul says of Timothy’s grandmother and mother:

2 Timothy 1:5 KJV 1900

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Paul is talking about saving faith.

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

As a mother, the greatest gift that you have been given and that you could receive, is the gift of eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 KJV 1900

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

There are three truths we must understand.

Truth #1: The Problem of Sin - Christ died for our sins.

Truth #2: The Penalty of Sin - Christ died for our sins.

Truth #3: The Payment for Sin - Christ died for our sins.

You first must know Christ personally.

Next…

Magnify Christ in your words.

In Luke chapter 1, what was Mary using to magnify God? Her words!

To be a magnificent mother, you should strive to do the same!

Psalm 51:15 KJV 1900

O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

Psalm 63:3 KJV 1900

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise thee.

Psalm 119:13 KJV 1900

With my lips have I declared All the judgments of thy mouth.

Fill your heart and mind with God’s Word so that, when you open your mouth, God’s Word will come out and in so doing, you will magnify Christ in your words.

Proverbs 20:6 KJV 1900

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: But a faithful man who can find?

We need mothers - and fathers - who, with their words will magnify Christ and declare His glory not their own.

Magnify Christ in your words.

Then…

Magnify Christ in your thoughts.

What, so many times, occupies the minds of mothers? The cares of worries of life.

Remember Mary and Martha?

Luke 10:41–42 KJV 1900

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Name something - a “good” thing - that mother’s sometimes allow to occupy their minds - and which sometimes grow so big that they push out any thought of Christ?

In Luke chapter 8, we have the parable of the sower and the seed.

Luke 8:11 KJV 1900

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Luke 8:14 KJV 1900

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

What is one of the things that can choke out the word of God and keep it from bearing fruit in a person’s life? The cares of this life!

So, what should you do?

1 Peter 5:7 KJV 1900

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Why? So that you can magnify Christ in your thoughts!

Colossians 3:16 (KJV 1900)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Magnify Christ in your thoughts.

Remember the admonition of David in Psalm chapter 19:

Psalm 19:14 KJV 1900

Let the words of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.