Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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God’s Perfect Plan: The Effective Partnership and Participation of HIS People

Bible Reading:  Luke 1:39-45 (NIRV)

Key Verse: 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in Judea’s hill country. 40 There she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. . .   43 But why is God so kind to me? Why has the mother of my Lord come to me? 44 As soon as I heard the sound of your voice, the baby inside me jumped for joy. 

5 Our God is a God who strengthens and encourages you. May he give you the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had. 6 Then you can give glory to God with one mind and voice.  . . .
7 Christ has accepted you. So, accept one another in order to bring praise to God.
(Rom. 15:5,6a,7


DEVOTION

We all cherish family ties, and spending time with one another. We can see how cousins Mary and Elizabeth must have been close and spent much time together throughout their lives. Imagine how Elizabeth could have reacted to hearing a rumor about Mary before even meeting her. Would she have believed Mary was God’s vessel in this situation? I am not so sure. Not at that time.  Our LORD setup this event of Mary wanting so much to share her joy about God’s divine plan of which she is a key participant. What happens next is even more beautiful. Upon seeing Mary, Elizabeth is instantaneously overcome with elation and exuberance: joy that I honestly cannot even put into words. And why? God The Holy Spirit HIMSELF enveloped Elizabeth, and HE so brilliantly empowered baby John in his messenger role through his dear mommy’s voice right from the womb. Elizabeth’s HOLY SPIRIT-filled prophecy strengthened both in this most important maternal partnership: John preparing THE WAY for TRUE LIFE. In this most powerful, beautiful encounter, Elizabeth was lovingly able to accept, embrace and understand Mary’s unmistakable role as the mother of her LORD. She fully, faithfully accepted Mary, and did not allow any bitterness or jealousy to block THE LORD’S glorious, eternally monumental plan for humanity from taking shape within her. 

  PRAYER

Precious FATHER, please help me today. Give me love, humility and wisdom to see you clearly in each person I meet today, to accept each fellow believer as a partner in your work, and to exercise the fruit of THE SPIRIT in understanding and exemplifying true self-identity and purpose.
In YOUR MOST Excellent, praiseworthy NAME we shall live, serve, and have our very substance for evermore: amen, and amen.

 

Thought of the day

True acceptance of, and partnership with one another is an outflow of the undeserved grace of GOD given us in abundance.



Roni Mathew,
Long Island MTC: Merick, NY

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