Devotionals for July 4, 2023
Happy 4th of July from TNLC! You can CLICK HERE if you'd like to sign up for Starting Point. Class will begin on July 9th at 12:30pm.
READ
LUKE 1:26-38
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
REFLECT
Like Moses, Mary wondered, How can this be? Does God have the right person? But praise God that His calling and promises do not rely on us! “For no word from God will ever fail,” the angel told Mary. What more is there to say? Take the amount to silently reflect on the above story and the realization which made Mary reply, “I am the Lord’s servant.”
APPLY
Q: What does Mary’s final words in this passage reveal about her heart and God’s promises?
Q: Though God’s calling to you may not be as drastic as this story, how is God’s word to you challenging and comforting you?
Q: Through Mary, God brought Jesus into the world as its Redeemer. As a follower of Jesus, who needs to hear the Gospel and see Christ through your obedience?
SING
“Promises” by Maverick City Worship
PRAY
"May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
Father, your plans are good. You are holy and steadfast, and your word will never return empty. I pray for your will to be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Help me to partake in Your will with joy and obedience. Amen.
READ
LUKE 1:26-38
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
REFLECT
Like Moses, Mary wondered, How can this be? Does God have the right person? But praise God that His calling and promises do not rely on us! “For no word from God will ever fail,” the angel told Mary. What more is there to say? Take the amount to silently reflect on the above story and the realization which made Mary reply, “I am the Lord’s servant.”
APPLY
Q: What does Mary’s final words in this passage reveal about her heart and God’s promises?
Q: Though God’s calling to you may not be as drastic as this story, how is God’s word to you challenging and comforting you?
Q: Through Mary, God brought Jesus into the world as its Redeemer. As a follower of Jesus, who needs to hear the Gospel and see Christ through your obedience?
SING
“Promises” by Maverick City Worship
PRAY
"May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
Father, your plans are good. You are holy and steadfast, and your word will never return empty. I pray for your will to be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Help me to partake in Your will with joy and obedience. Amen.