Saviour

In my personal devotions, I have just started to read through the Gospel according to Luke.   This is, of course, not the first time that I have read through this book, penned by a Gentile medical doctor, writing as one who has carefully researched his material, for the immediate benefit of someone named "Theophilus"(which may be the name of a specific individual but which may also, according to a translation of the Greek, be a general 'title' - "lover of God"), all under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit.  However, as so often happens when one reads the Living Word of the Living God, a word; a phrase; a sentence; jumps out in a way that had not been noticed on any previous occasion!

This morning, my allotted passage was Luke 1:39-80, and the little phrase that stood out was at the beginning of the newly-pregnant Mary's song of praise when she visited her older relative, Elizabeth - herself miraculously pregnant with the child who would be known as John the Baptiser.  That song is commonly referred to as "The Magnificat" (from the Latin translation), and the first sentence commences: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, ..." (Luke 1:46-47).

Saviour!  This is a wonderful title for God.  Mary's words are a reminder that He is a personal Saviour.  He is the Saviour of all who accept that they are sinners deserving nothing but His wrath, and judgement, and punishment; who recognise that there is nothing that they can ever do about that; but who also accept the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, as he paid the price for their sin.

Of course, He is also "... the Saviour of the world." (John 4:42).  However, this is not to suggest that all will be saved!   What it shows is that His work on the cross is sufficient for all - but it is only efficient for those who believe.

There are many, even today, who are willing to accept that Jesus of Nazareth was a good Teacher - and He was.  There are many who believe that if we all lived by His teaching, the world would be a much better place - and it would.  The Bible teaches, clearly, that He was Almighty God, having taken on human flesh, that He might save us from the penalty, the power and, ultimately, the presence, of sin.  This is teaching that is "... sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (I Tim 1:15).

Be sure that you know Him as your personal Saviour, and Lord, and be able to echo the words of Mary: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, ..."    It will be for your good, and to His eternal glory.