Novemeber 3 2013
I Am The Lord’s Servant!
Luke 1:37-38 (NIV)
For nothing is impossible with God. "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
The selected verses are taken from a conversation that Mary had with the angel Gabriel, in which he told her she would become pregnant, even though, she was still a virgin. That is a very tough message, here where God was showing Mary “tough love!” This is a modern saying, which usually has meanings anywhere from true love, to a flippant description of someone just using you in some way to advance themselves at your expense. Yes, I know it is not the Christmas season yet, but you may not be sure, if you go to any store, as they are already decorated for the Christmas season. Oh sorry, the store workers must say the holiday season! What will you say?
Now back to the selected verses, and what Mary said about the news she had just received. "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. To which she then said, "May it be to me as you have said." Most of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ would have difficulty in giving such an answer, in my opinion. What do you think you might say to such a potentially devastating situation? This situation for Mary could vastly change her life, as she did not have getting an abortion as a cure for her problem, and in that day and age, having sex outside of marriage, was considered unacceptable behavior, which could cause her to be shunned by her betrothed husband, and even by her family. She could have been looking at a very bad outcome for herself, but she trusted God, so she had no great fear in this unusual situation.
What about you do you really trust Jesus to deliver you from this lifetime into a better place, where there is no more suffering of death? No matter what God asks you to do in this lifetime, you will do it because you trust God! Jesus told His disciples that they may have sorrow now, but there is coming a time and place where there will be no sorrow or sadness or crying or death. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. (John 16:22, NLT) You will see Jesus again, well most of us have not seen Jesus already, but because He died for your sins, you will see Him again, for the first time, when you leave this lifetime.
One of my best friends just left me behind, and he went back to see Jesus for the first time and there is joy for him with Jesus, and there is sorrow for me, just now. However, because of our Savior Jesus Christ, and what He did for us, I know I will see my good friend again! Did this man ever sin, yes of course he did, but he also believed what Jesus promised for us who chose to follow Him. I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. (John 5:24, NLT) So you see the followers of Jesus start their eternal life when they accepted Jesus gift of salvation not when they die!
Some may question why any of us human beings deserve to be saved from a life sometimes directed by our sinful nature? Paul writing to Timothy divulges how and why this is true. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time-to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:9, NLT)
When we die some of us believe we should be awarded heaven because we are good people, but the Bible tells us that no one is good. Jesus did not consider Himself to be good. As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No-one is good— except God alone. (Mark 10:17-18) When Jesus walked this earth as a human being/God, even then, He did not consider Himself to be good. Jesus was without sin, but He still did not trust in His own power, but instead He deferred to God, and Jesus put His whole trust in God our Father, which is in heaven. Do you trust God to deliver your soul to heaven when you pass from this life?
Jesus trusted God, and therefore, He chose to die for your sins. Because of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, we can be saved from the torment of hell. All we must do is trust in God to deliver our souls to heaven, because Jesus paid the price of admission into heaven. This promise allows us to have the freedom of not worrying about what will happen to us when we die and leave this life. When you accepted Jesus’ offer of salvation is when you first saw Him, and when you leave this life will be the second time you will see Him, this time face-to-face!
When you accepted the free gift of salvation the Spirit entered your heart, and He has resided there ever since. Because you have the Spirit, then you also inherited freedom. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17, NLT)
Your salvation has been purchased and given to you through the grace of Jesus, enjoy your freedom, and trust in the Lord always! The troubles you experience in this life may not be so burdensome, if you can think as Mary did and say, “I am the Lord’s servant!” Mary trusted God to control her life, and because of her trust she obtained freedom from worry. You might remember too, she was blessed by God, and became the mother of God/Jesus! That was a once in an “earth time” offer and blessing, which God granted her because of her willingness to serve.
Then maybe we the followers of Jesus may each say as Mary did, "I am the Lord’s servant," "May it be to me as you have said?" Can you trust in the Lord that much?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Luke 1:37-38 (NIV)
For nothing is impossible with God. "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
The selected verses are taken from a conversation that Mary had with the angel Gabriel, in which he told her she would become pregnant, even though, she was still a virgin. That is a very tough message, here where God was showing Mary “tough love!” This is a modern saying, which usually has meanings anywhere from true love, to a flippant description of someone just using you in some way to advance themselves at your expense. Yes, I know it is not the Christmas season yet, but you may not be sure, if you go to any store, as they are already decorated for the Christmas season. Oh sorry, the store workers must say the holiday season! What will you say?
Now back to the selected verses, and what Mary said about the news she had just received. "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. To which she then said, "May it be to me as you have said." Most of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ would have difficulty in giving such an answer, in my opinion. What do you think you might say to such a potentially devastating situation? This situation for Mary could vastly change her life, as she did not have getting an abortion as a cure for her problem, and in that day and age, having sex outside of marriage, was considered unacceptable behavior, which could cause her to be shunned by her betrothed husband, and even by her family. She could have been looking at a very bad outcome for herself, but she trusted God, so she had no great fear in this unusual situation.
What about you do you really trust Jesus to deliver you from this lifetime into a better place, where there is no more suffering of death? No matter what God asks you to do in this lifetime, you will do it because you trust God! Jesus told His disciples that they may have sorrow now, but there is coming a time and place where there will be no sorrow or sadness or crying or death. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. (John 16:22, NLT) You will see Jesus again, well most of us have not seen Jesus already, but because He died for your sins, you will see Him again, for the first time, when you leave this lifetime.
One of my best friends just left me behind, and he went back to see Jesus for the first time and there is joy for him with Jesus, and there is sorrow for me, just now. However, because of our Savior Jesus Christ, and what He did for us, I know I will see my good friend again! Did this man ever sin, yes of course he did, but he also believed what Jesus promised for us who chose to follow Him. I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. (John 5:24, NLT) So you see the followers of Jesus start their eternal life when they accepted Jesus gift of salvation not when they die!
Some may question why any of us human beings deserve to be saved from a life sometimes directed by our sinful nature? Paul writing to Timothy divulges how and why this is true. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time-to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:9, NLT)
When we die some of us believe we should be awarded heaven because we are good people, but the Bible tells us that no one is good. Jesus did not consider Himself to be good. As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No-one is good— except God alone. (Mark 10:17-18) When Jesus walked this earth as a human being/God, even then, He did not consider Himself to be good. Jesus was without sin, but He still did not trust in His own power, but instead He deferred to God, and Jesus put His whole trust in God our Father, which is in heaven. Do you trust God to deliver your soul to heaven when you pass from this life?
Jesus trusted God, and therefore, He chose to die for your sins. Because of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, we can be saved from the torment of hell. All we must do is trust in God to deliver our souls to heaven, because Jesus paid the price of admission into heaven. This promise allows us to have the freedom of not worrying about what will happen to us when we die and leave this life. When you accepted Jesus’ offer of salvation is when you first saw Him, and when you leave this life will be the second time you will see Him, this time face-to-face!
When you accepted the free gift of salvation the Spirit entered your heart, and He has resided there ever since. Because you have the Spirit, then you also inherited freedom. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17, NLT)
Your salvation has been purchased and given to you through the grace of Jesus, enjoy your freedom, and trust in the Lord always! The troubles you experience in this life may not be so burdensome, if you can think as Mary did and say, “I am the Lord’s servant!” Mary trusted God to control her life, and because of her trust she obtained freedom from worry. You might remember too, she was blessed by God, and became the mother of God/Jesus! That was a once in an “earth time” offer and blessing, which God granted her because of her willingness to serve.
Then maybe we the followers of Jesus may each say as Mary did, "I am the Lord’s servant," "May it be to me as you have said?" Can you trust in the Lord that much?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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