A Small Beginning, A Great Salvation
Sermon December 22, 2024 Luke 1:46b-55
A Small Beginning, A Great Salvation
Pastor Fred Okello
Beloved, let us begin by reflecting on one of the most moving songs of the Christmas season, “Mary, Did You Know?” This song invites us to imagine Mary’s perspective: how would it feel to be chosen for something so significant? What emotions might fill your heart—fear, awe, joy, or perhaps disbelief?
Mary, an ordinary young woman from a humble background, was chosen to carry the extraordinary. Her response in the Magnificat, recorded in Luke 1:46b-55, reveals her reverence of the Lord.
Now, let’s bring this closer to our lives. Think about the moments in your life that have felt significant—those moments that changed everything. How did they make you feel? And what about those times when something good happened to someone else, and you found yourself wishing, “Why not me?”
Through Mary’s story, and through our own experiences, we learn an important truth: God often begins with the small, the humble, and the seemingly insignificant to accomplish His greatest works.
Mary begins by saying: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant” (Luke 1:46b-48). Mary recognizes that God’s grace is at work, transforming the ordinary into extraordinary.
Back in Africa, the Lord gave us responsibility to help certain groups of people. We didn’t have much, but we understood that sharing what we had was a way of living out God’s virtue. One day, a friend we had supported stopped by to say hello. This time, she seemed weighed down, not with need, but with a sense of guilt.
She confessed that she had always wanted to bring us a gift, but she thought it was too small compared to what we had given her. She felt embarrassed and unworthy. I told her, “In God, nothing is too small. If you feel led to bless me, I will not turn it down.” Tragically, I never saw her again.
That moment taught me a lesson: Many people miss God’s blessing because they wait to have enough to share! But the question is, “when do you know you have enough?” or “what if you don’t get enough?” God values not the size of the gift but the heart behind it. We are called to offer whatever we have—our time, our talents, our possessions—knowing that God can multiply it for His glory.
Have you ever compared yourself to someone else and felt like you fell short? This is a natural human tendency, but it often blinds us to the unique blessings God has given us. Mary could have compared herself to others and doubted her worthiness to bear the Son of God. Instead, she embraced her calling with humility and joy.
Comparison robs us of gratitude and leads us to doubt God’s plan for our lives. Think again of my friend in Africa. Her comparison of what she had to what we gave, caused her to hold back a gift that could have brought joy to both of us. God’s economy is not based on human standards; His grace works through both the great and the small.
The Magnificat challenges us to magnify the Lord, rejoicing not just in what He has done for us but in what He is doing in the lives of others. As we approach Christmas, we enter a kairos moment—a sacred time to celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Son of God made flesh. This is a time to reflect on the greatest gift of all: the newness of life through Jesus and the promise of eternal life.
But Christmas is also a call to action. Just as Mary carried Jesus into the world, we are called to carry His love and light into the lives of others. How can we become Jesus incarnate to those around us? Perhaps it’s by offering a kind word to someone who feels overlooked. Maybe it’s by giving, even if it feels small, trusting that God can use it to bless others. Or perhaps it’s through sharing the gospel with someone in need of hope. Whatever form it takes, remember that God’s greatest works often begin with small acts of faithfulness.