Luke 1:26-38
Luke 1:26-38
Today, we get the honor of reading a very well known story. It is a story we talk about every single Christmas season. It is the story of Mary learning she will be with child - the SON OF GOD. What an honor. What a privilege (even though it probably did not always feel like it).
There is so much in this story. The heart of Mary. The way she asked questions in faith. The way she trusted God. But today, I want us to focus on what the Angel Gabriel said to her. As I was reading, I found it very intriguing.
[30] And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. // Luke 1:30
A couple things stick out to me from this statement.
WITH GOD WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.
We will all encounter circumstances that produce fear and anxiety in us. There are unknowns. It is not how we would have written our story. But here we see something about God and His character. With Him we have nothing to fear.
Nothing can come into the life of the believer in Jesus that is not signed off by God. We have to trust in that.
[31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? // Romans 8:31
FAVOR FROM GOD DOES NOT ALWAYS FEEL LIKE FAVOR.
Mary! You have found favor with God… SO, to your community you are going to be seen as a teenage mother, pregnant out of wedlock, people are going to stare, people are going to talk about you… and all because you have favor with God.
But favor it was.. She was invited into the story of Jesus in a very special way with a very special purpose. What a calling.
WE HAVE FAVOR WITH GOD BECAUSE OF JESUS AND ARE INVITED INTO HIS STORY IN A SPECIAL WAY… SO DON’T FEAR.
When I think about how this story relates to our lives, I think about the favor that we now have with God because of Jesus. We have a distinct calling… to take everyone we meet another step closer to becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
This is for all of us. Seasoned Christian or new. Young or old. And what a calling it is. We get to join the story of Jesus in a special way.
Questions:
Where are you experiencing fear in your life? How can you trust God in this?
Who is God asking you to invest in in your life? How can you take them another step closer to becoming a true disciple of Jesus this week?
By: Nick Parsons
Today, we get the honor of reading a very well known story. It is a story we talk about every single Christmas season. It is the story of Mary learning she will be with child - the SON OF GOD. What an honor. What a privilege (even though it probably did not always feel like it).
There is so much in this story. The heart of Mary. The way she asked questions in faith. The way she trusted God. But today, I want us to focus on what the Angel Gabriel said to her. As I was reading, I found it very intriguing.
[30] And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. // Luke 1:30
A couple things stick out to me from this statement.
WITH GOD WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.
We will all encounter circumstances that produce fear and anxiety in us. There are unknowns. It is not how we would have written our story. But here we see something about God and His character. With Him we have nothing to fear.
Nothing can come into the life of the believer in Jesus that is not signed off by God. We have to trust in that.
[31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? // Romans 8:31
FAVOR FROM GOD DOES NOT ALWAYS FEEL LIKE FAVOR.
Mary! You have found favor with God… SO, to your community you are going to be seen as a teenage mother, pregnant out of wedlock, people are going to stare, people are going to talk about you… and all because you have favor with God.
But favor it was.. She was invited into the story of Jesus in a very special way with a very special purpose. What a calling.
WE HAVE FAVOR WITH GOD BECAUSE OF JESUS AND ARE INVITED INTO HIS STORY IN A SPECIAL WAY… SO DON’T FEAR.
When I think about how this story relates to our lives, I think about the favor that we now have with God because of Jesus. We have a distinct calling… to take everyone we meet another step closer to becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
This is for all of us. Seasoned Christian or new. Young or old. And what a calling it is. We get to join the story of Jesus in a special way.
Questions:
Where are you experiencing fear in your life? How can you trust God in this?
Who is God asking you to invest in in your life? How can you take them another step closer to becoming a true disciple of Jesus this week?
By: Nick Parsons
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