november 27, 2010 A Promise Come True

A Promise Come True

Day 12: Luke 1:32-33 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

WHO is Jesus? The question is asked again and again. The world gives different answers. God gives the one answer.
He is the Son of the Most High—the Son of God. Plain and powerful, this is the truth from the mouth of God’s messenger.
“But,” you might ask, “if Jesus is the Son of God, how can it be that King David, dead for centuries, is his Father?” This points to a prophecy God gave to David, that the Savior would be from his “house” from his lineage. David is one of many earthly people who is of Jesus’ human ancestry. God told his people his Savior would be from David’s family. Gabriel’s words confirm the prophecy.
And what of the term “Jacob” here? Jacob is the father of 12 sons who each became respectively, a head of the 12 tribes of Israel. One of his sons was Judah. Judah is the direct ancestor of David. Jesus is referred to as the Lion of Judah.
The point is, Gabriel, the messenger, is making it absolutely clear to Mary that God is about to fulfill in her the centuries-old prophecies of his Savior. This message of Mary’s impending pregnancy is pregnant with the reality of prophecy come true. This is God. God has told his people for centuries what his plans are. His plans are now becoming reality. And the world will change forever.
God has plans for you, too. No, don’t go hide and say, “Not me.” He has plans for you because he loves you. You can discover those plans when you read his Word. You will hear his voice in the bible, and you will feel your heart move toward the place where he wants you to be.


Pause and Consider: what plans might God want to come true for you and through you?

Whatever Age
Read 1 Timothy 4-6

1 Tim 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

WHAT defines a person’s testimony about Jesus Christ? It certainly isn’t his or her age. Paul’s writing to his young associate, Timothy, who has ministered and cared for new churches. Timothy has been in the “trenches” waging spiritual warfare with Paul and new believers. He’s a young man, still. And Paul is writing to encourage him.
And I want to encourage you—regardless of your age. Personally, I’ve learned much from young people. They often see life in a different way than my “older” eyes. Listening to wise young people has been a learning experience for me.
If you are young and love Jesus, then do not hold back because of your youth. Be a person who sets the trend among your friends. Speak of the Lord from your heart. Respond to Jesus’ love by living a life of example, speaking and living in a way that honors your suffering, resurrected Lord.


Pause and Consider: how we can learn from all around us.