Ephesians
2:10 “For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.”
This
week, Michael writes that through the journey of life, our Heavenly Father will
prepare us for the path that He has foreordained that we should walk. The
reason we assemble together as like-minded believers in the Christian church, at
Bible study and fellowship events is to encourage and lift up one another as we
journey together according to the way that the Lord, our God, has prepared for
us.
Isaiah
55:8-9 “For my thoughts are
not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For
as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
The
Virgin Mary was an example of humility. She said, "Be it unto me according to Thy word."
What was God thinking when He called this humble virgin girl? God's ways
are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Therefore, humble
thyself under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time. Luke
1:46-50 is the account of Mary's "Magnificat" - The Song of Mary.
Luke
1:46-50 And Mary said: “My
soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He
has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all
generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things
for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who
fear Him from generation to generation.”
This
is the outpouring of her heart of joy and gratitude because of the message she
heard from the Angel Gabriel. Mary's "Magnificat" was a song of
joy to God for counting His humble handmaiden worthy to bear God's son. Her
heart had been revolutionized. Mary's son, Jesus Christ himself, was a
revolutionary. He came to make fundamental changes and to revolutionize
society, governments and world orders. A revolution is a sudden, radical
and complete change. According to Corinthians, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old
things have passed away, all things are become new. Revolution starts with
a revolution in hearts and minds. It's only by the grace of God that we're
called to repentance ... to turn our hearts to the Lord. 2
Timothy 3: 1-5 is about the "perilous times" that Jesus
talked about. Cultures will rise and fall. Our own culture is
disintegrating and world orders are changing.
Sometimes
material abundance is a curse. Abundance in our society promotes
"choices." Because of multiple choices, many in our society
pursue the wrong choice. They chose the “wisdom of this world” which is earthly,
sensual, and devilish. We need the Holy Spirit's help to chose the “wisdom
from above”. This true spiritual wisdom is peaceable, approachable,
without partiality and without hypocrisy. Regarding material abundance, we
need the Holy Spirit's help us chose to be good stewards of that which He has
entrusted to us.
Jesus
came to bring about three types of revolutions. Christianity is “death to
pride”. According to Philippians 2, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Mary
identified herself as the Lord's humble handmaiden. Jesus Christ humbled himself and made himself of no
reputation and took upon himself the form of a bond servant...one who serves
others from a heart of love. His ultimate act of love is that He was obedient, even unto death. On the Cross He
became God's perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf.
Let's continue Michael's message on revolutionary Christianity in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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