Don't envy...Rejoice ! ( Luke 1:39-43 )

Luke 1:39-43

New Living Translation (NLT)




 

³⁹ A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town ⁴⁰ where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
⁴² Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. ⁴³ Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?




 
Even though she herself was pregnant with a long-awaited son, Elizabeth could of envied Mary, whose son would be greater than her own. Instead she was filled with joy that the mother of her Lord would visit her. Have you ever envied people whom God has apparently singled out for a special blessing? A cure for jealousy is to rejoice with those people, realizing that God uses His people in ways best suited for His purpose.




 
Joe

















 

Favor with God. (Luke 1:30-31)

Luke 1:30-31

New Living Translation (NLT)



 

³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.




 
God's favor does not automatically bring instant success or fame. His blessing on Mary, the honor of being the mother of the Messiah, would lead to much pain: her peers would ridicule her; her fiance'  would come close to leaving her; her son would be rejected and murdered. But through her son would come the world's only hope, and this is why Mary has been praised by countless generations as the young girl who "found favor with God." Her submission was part of God's plan to bring about our salvation. If sorrow weighs you down and dims your hope, think of Mary and wait patiently for God to finish working out His plan.




 
Joe



























 

With God, anything is possible. (Luke 1:13, 18)

Luke 1:13, 18

New King James Version (NKJV)


 

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 

...

 
¹⁸ And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”


 
When told he would have a son, Zechariah doubted the angel's word. From Zechariah's human perspective, his doubts were understandable - but with God, anything is possible. Although Zechariah and Elizabeth were past the age of childbearing, God gave them a child. It is easy to doubt or misunderstand what God wants to do in our lives. Even God's people sometimes make the mistake of trusting their intellect or experience rather than God. When tempted to think that one of God's promises is impossible, remember His work throughout history. God's power is not confined by narrow perspective or bound by human limitations. Trust Him completely.







Joe


















 

Do you need a Heart Transplant? (Luke 1:17)

Luke 1:17

New King James Version (NKJV)



 

¹⁷ He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”


  
In preparing people for the Messiah's arrival, John would do "heart transplants." He would take stony hearts and exchange them for hearts that were soft, pliable, trusting and open to change. Are you as open to God as you should be? Or do you need a change of heart?



 
Joe
















 

Servanthood (Mark 16:20)

Mark 16:20

New Living Translation (NLT)



 

²⁰ And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.




 
Mark's Gospel emphasizes Christ's power as well as His servanthood. Jesus' life and teaching turn the world upside down. The world sees power as a way to gain control over others. But Jesus, with all His authority and power in heaven and earth, chose to serve others. He held children in His arms, healed the sick, washed the disciples' feet, and died for the sins of the world. Following Jesus means receiving this same power to serve. As believers, we are called to be servants of Christ. As Christ served, so we are to serve.




 
Joe























 

Stay Alert ! (Mark 13:33-34)

Mark 13:33-34

New Living Translation (NLT)


 

³³ And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!
³⁴ “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.




 
Months of planning go into a wedding, the birth of a baby, a career change, a speaking engagement, the purchase of a home. Do you place the same importance on preparing for Christ's return, the most important event in your life? Its results will last for eternity. You dare not postpone your preparations because you do not know when His return will occur. The way to prepare is to study God's Word and live by its instructions each day. Only then will you be ready.




 
Joe










 

Give out of gratitude to God. (Mark 12:41-44)

Mark 12:41-44

New Living Translation (NLT)


 

⁴¹ Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. ⁴² Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.
⁴³ Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. ⁴⁴ For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.


 
In the Lord's eyes, this poor widow gave more than all the others put together, though her gift by far was the smallest. The value of a gift is not determined by its amount, but by the spirit in which it is given. A gift given grudgingly or for recognition loses its value. When you give, remember - gifts of any size are pleasing to God when they are given out of gratitude and a spirit of generosity.





 
Joe