A Tale of Two Citizens
Scripture: Luke 1:18-19, 42-45
"18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years. 19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time...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? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
Observations:
In Luke's account of the events building up to the coming of Christ, he recounts Zecharaiah and Mary's response as two very different responses to God's plan. Zechariah had never had children and couldn't believe that God would now give him a son in his old age. Mary had never been married but found a way to believe that God could give her a child without even being married yet. These two contrasting stories paint a picture of two ordinary individuals who found it strange that God would choose them for such a significant part in His plan. But God didn't choose either one of them because they had earned enough God points or because they had some other extraordinary qualification, both of them simply found favor with God. Zecharaiah didn't believe at first and yet God still fulfilled his promise and answered his prayers for a son. Mary hadn't even asked for a son and yet had to the faith to believe for the miraculous to happen in her own life. In both situations God did amazing things despite their circumstances simply because His plan is not dependent upon our who we are but upon who He is.
Application:
We honestly never really expect God do pick us for the task of changing the world because there are a lot more "qualified" people for the task. But God's plan has a lot less to do with us and much more to do with His sovereign rule as Lord of the universe. Even when we don't think we have the faith to believe for great things, God still invites us to participate in His plan. Even when our circumstances aren't condusive to greatness, He still invites us to join His work. Even when everything around us seems like a complete impossibility, it has no bearing on God's plan for our lives. It's not about us anyway; it's about Him and His Kingdom. We have the opportunity each day to choose to live according to His will for us or to continue in the realm of the ordinary. But even in the normal areas of our lives, God's plan could at any moment break into the ordinary and make it extraordinary if we are willing to accept His invitation.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for choosing us to be a part of the most exciting story in history. We want nothing more than for Your Kingdom to come and for Your will to be done in our ordinary lives today so that the world will see how extraordinary You are. Thank You for Your underserved favor today. Use us to do great things in Your name. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
"18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years. 19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time...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? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
Observations:
In Luke's account of the events building up to the coming of Christ, he recounts Zecharaiah and Mary's response as two very different responses to God's plan. Zechariah had never had children and couldn't believe that God would now give him a son in his old age. Mary had never been married but found a way to believe that God could give her a child without even being married yet. These two contrasting stories paint a picture of two ordinary individuals who found it strange that God would choose them for such a significant part in His plan. But God didn't choose either one of them because they had earned enough God points or because they had some other extraordinary qualification, both of them simply found favor with God. Zecharaiah didn't believe at first and yet God still fulfilled his promise and answered his prayers for a son. Mary hadn't even asked for a son and yet had to the faith to believe for the miraculous to happen in her own life. In both situations God did amazing things despite their circumstances simply because His plan is not dependent upon our who we are but upon who He is.
Application:
We honestly never really expect God do pick us for the task of changing the world because there are a lot more "qualified" people for the task. But God's plan has a lot less to do with us and much more to do with His sovereign rule as Lord of the universe. Even when we don't think we have the faith to believe for great things, God still invites us to participate in His plan. Even when our circumstances aren't condusive to greatness, He still invites us to join His work. Even when everything around us seems like a complete impossibility, it has no bearing on God's plan for our lives. It's not about us anyway; it's about Him and His Kingdom. We have the opportunity each day to choose to live according to His will for us or to continue in the realm of the ordinary. But even in the normal areas of our lives, God's plan could at any moment break into the ordinary and make it extraordinary if we are willing to accept His invitation.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for choosing us to be a part of the most exciting story in history. We want nothing more than for Your Kingdom to come and for Your will to be done in our ordinary lives today so that the world will see how extraordinary You are. Thank You for Your underserved favor today. Use us to do great things in Your name. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
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