Friday (December 12): The Lord will lead you in the way you should go Scripture: Luke 1:26-38 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. Meditation: Do you seek Gods way of peace and wisdom for your life? The prophets remind us that God’s kingdom is available to those who are teachable and receptive to the word of God. Through their obedience to Gods word and commandments, they receive not only wisdom and peace for themselves, but they, in turn become a blessing to their children and their offspring as well. Jesus warns the generation of his day to heed Gods word before it is too late. He compares proud teachers and vain scholars with stubborn playmates who refuse to follow wise counsel and instruction. Jesus parable about a group of disappointed musicians and their stubborn friends who refuse to sing or dance at the appropriate occasion challenge us to examine whether we are selective to only hear and do what we want to hear. The young music players in Jesus parable react with great dismay because they cannot get anyone to follow their instruction. They complain that if they play their music at weddings, no one will join in their festive song and dance; and if they play mournful tunes and songs at funerals, no one will join in at all. This parable echoes the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3:4 - there is a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. Are you in tune with the message of Gods kingdom? And do you heed Gods word of wisdom and truth as if your life depended on it? Spiritual indifference and deaf ears can block Gods word for us Jesus message of the kingdom of God is a proclamation of good news that produces great joy and hope for those who listen and obey - but it is also a warning of bad consequences and disaster for those who refuse to accept Gods gracious invitation. Why did the message of John the Baptist and the message of Jesus meet with resistance and deaf ears? It was out of jealously and spiritual blindness that the scribes and Pharisees attributed John the Baptists austerities to the devil and they attributed Jesus table fellowship as evidence for pretending to be the Messiah. They succeeded in frustrating Gods plan for their lives because they had closed their hearts to the message of John the Baptist and now they close their ears to Jesus, Gods anointed Son sent to redeem us from bondage to sin and death. What can make us spiritually dull and slow to hear Gods voice? Like the generation of Jesus time, our age is marked by indifference and contempt, especially in regards to the things of heaven. Indifference dulls our ears to Gods voice and to the good news of the Gospel. Only the humble of heart can find joy and favor in Gods sight. Is you life in tune with Jesus message of hope and salvation? And do you know the joy and blessing of believing and obeying Gods word? Lord Jesus, open my ears to hear the good news of your kingdom and set my heart free to love and serve you joyfully. May nothing keep me from following you wholeheartedly.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 17:40:03 +0000