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Luke 11:28

²⁸But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

In the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Mary is told by an angel that she has found favor with God (Luke 1:28, 30). Elizabeth told Mary, "blessed are you among women" (Luke 1:42). One major branch of Christianity has taken these passages to exalt Mary and has even worshiped her. Some think she should be elevated to the status of co-Redeemer. We have come to a passage in Luke in which we get some clarification and balance on this issue.

As Jesus preached, a woman in the crowd yelled out that the womb that bore Jesus and the breasts that nursed Him were certainly blessed. Women of that day prayed to be the mother of the Messiah. This woman was saying that Mary was that blessed woman. Jesus responded with our verse for today. Those who are truly blessed are those who hear the Word of God and live it out. He is saying that everyone who will listen to God's Word and put it into practice are those we can know are the blessed ones. He was not denying that Mary was blessed, but that we should say that all who hear and do the Word of God are blessed.

Do you want to be as blessed as Mary, mother of the Word made flesh? Jesus said that you can be, by hearing and obeying the Word of God. To "keep" the Word is to remember and live according to it. It is to value it as a treasure. The Word of God delivered to us from the prophets and apostles is God's revelation of Himself to us. It is the message from our Creator to guide us out of darkness and into the light. It is the power by which our lives are transformed and our minds are renewed. God will bless you as much as you cling to the Word and live according to it.

Consider: Is the word of God your life (Proverbs 4:13)?