his own words quoted by the spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief. For whatever reason the welfare of Tiny Tim had begun to pierce Scrooge’s frigid heart. There was the stirring of compassion in him, even if he was not quite familiar with the feeling, and not sure how to act on it yet. The fact that he cared about the child and felt shame at having dismissed such like him previously shows progress. The Spirit accompanying Scrooge had little time. Come midnight he would be gone. We know we are at the mercy of time, which is beyond our control. Even more reason to heed God’s will and hear His voice calling us into action, to join Him in places where His heart resides. There is a price to pay for obedience, we should be aware. The God of the Bible is an uncomfortable one, demanding that His people act like Him, even to their own cost, as it was to his cost. Mary understood that demand, or she would over time. Her yes to God meant she would be a witness to her son’s premature death. She knew what Christ’s life would be, would mean, and how it would impact the world. She sang a victorious song about Him in Luke’s gospel. “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior, because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name; from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.” God had done great things for Mary, but what about what Mary would do for God? More than anyone before or after her, no doubt, but it was not something she was not willing to do. Her song has been called the first rough draft of Christianity. It’s a kind of prophetic retelling of future events in present tense. “He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts. He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.”
when our God will seek vengeance, to console all who mourn. They will rebuild the perpetual ruins and restore the places that were desolate; they will reestablish the ruined cities, the places that have been desolate since ancient times. For I, the Lord, love justice and hate robbery and sin. I will repay them because of my faithfulness; I will make a permanent covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations, their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will recognize that the Lord has blessed them.” I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; I will be overjoyed because of my God. For he clothes me in garments of deliverance; he puts on me a robe symbolizing vindication. I look like a bridegroom when he wears a turban as a priest would; I look like a bride when she puts on her jewelry. 11 For just as the ground produces its crops and a garden yields its produce, so the sovereign Lord will cause deliverance to grow, and give his people reason to praise him in the sight of all the nations.” Luke 1:46-55 And Mary said, “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior, because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name; from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him. He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts. He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”