Favour & Humility: Diving Deeper
See Jesus
As I was preparing to preach on Sunday and had spent time in the Word I was so aware of something that I hadn't noticed before. it was a key to living a life of humility I believe.
I was looking at the lives of the fathers of Jesus and John the Baptist.
For Zechariah, John's father, he was not able to have a child until very late in life. In fact, he had conceded that he would not be able to have children due to the age of himself and his wife, Elizabeth.
In that time and culture, this was a very large embarrassment, a sense of failure. It would have been customary and acceptable for Zechariah to divorce due to infertility and pursue another that could provide a child for him. Zechariah did not do this. He remained with Elizabeth and mourned the fact that she could not conceive with her, and he prayed that she could conceive. This is an act of humility!
Joseph, as he is engaged to Mary, finds out that Mary is pregnant and that he is not the father of the child. In fact God has placed this child, the Messiah, within Mary.
In that time and culture, this was a very large embarrassment. It would have been acceptable for Joseph to divorce Mary, breaking off the engagement.
Gabriel, and angel of the Lord, visits Joseph to explain the situation and comfort him. Through this encounter, Joseph accepts Jesus as his son. This is an act of humility!
Gabriel told Mary that she was highly favoured, Mary had to choose to walk in that. Joseph also has a choice to make. Will he humble himself before the Lord and walk in the same favour as Mary, raising the Messiah as his son?
Opposite situations, both with the opportunity to walk in humility before the Lord, regardless of what others think or say. They choose to walk in the unmerited grace and favour of the Lord for their lives.
These are great examples to me today! What do you think? What happens in our lives when we choose to walk in the favour and grace of being a child of God through the provision of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour!?
Blessings of Grace & Favour to your dear family!
Pastor Kevin
Know Jesus
This week, you can dive deeper into the message through one or all of the following:
Discovery Bible Study
TO BEGIN
Pray and ask Holy Spirit to teach you about God from His word.
Next, read the verse a couple of times.
Now, ask these questions:
What does this tell me about God/Jesus?
What does this tell me about people?
How can I respond to what I just read?
When you’re done asking these questions, it’s a great idea to pray and thank God for teaching you more about who He is and who you are!
Discovery Bible Study (DBS) is a way for anyone, anywhere to read God's word! You can dive deeper into this week's message by doing a DBS one any one or all of these scriptures. DBS is a great tool to use for your own devotions, as a bible study with friends, or as an evangelism tool!
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Matthew 23:12
Prayer Prompts
Pray that Holy Spirit will help us know God's love for us.
Pray that we would be led by the Holy Spirit in love, unity, and humility.
Pray the Lord will show us where we can encourage others.
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