What’s Happening?
Day 10: Luke 1: 29-30 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
“You have found favor with God.” Uh oh. Something’s up. Have you ever had someone come to you and say, “You’re just the right person for ….” Your first reaction might be, “Now what? I don’t have time for another job or responsibility. Maybe if I don’t say anything, maybe if I play dumb, he’ll go away, and I can go home.” You don’t want any trouble. Keep life simple.
Mary had no doubt something was up. God’s messenger was talking to her. His appearance stunned her. His greeting disturbed her. “If God favors me, he must want something. What could he possibly want? Why would God speak to me?”
Mary knew God’s history. She knew he came to average, even below average people, and asked them to do great things for Him. She knew about Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Ruth, Elijah, Nehemiah and all the others—a murderer, a prostitute, a scaredy cat, and even some faithful ones. She knew God asked impossible things of them.
That’s why she was troubled. A message from God was life-changing. She wasn’t sure she wanted her life to change.
Sound familiar?
Pause and Consider: it’s not easy to take new steps in life unless God has gone before you. He always goes first to where he wants you to be with him.
A Stronger Church
Read 2 Thessalonians
2 Thess 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
THIS THANKSGIVING is very powerful for two reasons. First, the Apostle Paul thanks God for the people in this new church in Thessalonica. It is a good lesson for all of us involved in churches to take a few minutes each week, each day or on some regular basis to thank God for the people in our church. Paul is giving thanks because these people have persevered against persecution and other challenges.
The church today isn’t outwardly persecuted, but there is a sharp cultural movement that goes against mainstream churches. And much criticism comes from within the church. God desires to have churches doing his work well in our neighborhoods, towns, cities and nation. How does that happen?
We in the church must begin by being people of healing and reconciliation. That begins within our own walls with prayer and thanking God for one another.
In Acts we see how Paul is frustrated with the church in Thessalonica. He compliments the church at Berea and criticizes the church at Thessalonica.
But now, the church seems to have changed. The Holy Spirit must have done some powerful work here to cause the church to become stronger and more in tune with God’s work.
Might Paul and others have prayed for this to happen, and God responded?
How’s your church? May your church live in the Spirit of God to bring people into a life with God.
Pause and Consider: how you can pray for your church today.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment