SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-33
“His kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:33) – this is the good news in this story.
Governments and ruling powers come and go, they rise in favour and fall from favour.
A Stephen Harper or Barack Obama or Rob Ford promise great things… and people are hopeful.
But their ‘kingdom’ (the world according to them, their policy) can never last.
This is because, no matter how laudable or laughable their policies, human nature remains at it’s core.
Yes, Jesus is human too, but more than that, He will be born of God, the Son of God, without sin.
I can’t explain how, I only know that finally, after centuries of hopelessness, a kingdom that endures is possible.
The key is not more power or policy, it is how Jesus overturns the powers and policy’s of the world.
He deals with the human nature at it’s core: he crucifies pride and replaces selfishness with selflessness.
He introduces heart transformation, so the character flaws and moral failures that ruin all other leaders is dealt with.
Finally a king who deals with the real problem, and does it in a just, merciful, honourable way.
Praise God, His kingdom will never end!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for dealing with the real problem in me, in all of us. Thank You that a better world is possible, and that one day, everyone will enjoy Your neverending kingdom.
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Never is a long time. A kingdom that NEVER ends is great news — when the Jesus is the one running the show. ! Lord, I pray this you will continue to change my heart and I pray that you will help me to maintain hope for this never ending kingdom during times of struggle.
Observations/Application
God sent His angel to Mary – a messenger with good news. The Lord was with Mary and the Lord God is with His people also this day, the first day in the new year of 2014. As we stand on the threshold we may be confident of this, the Lord God is with us.
The angel also told Mary not to be afraid. She would be an instrument of His peace for the world. The Lord reigns and His kingdom will never end.
I too need to be His instrument of peace in this new year and be His champion. He reigns and that reign will never end. His reign was then and still is today and every day in the new year. As God appeared to Mary and Joseph – to Adam and Eve in the beginning – He sill appears to His people this day.
Prayer
Help me each day anew Lord to live for You!
Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God the creator triumphantly raise.
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on to the end of our days.
God’s banners are o’er us, His light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night.
Tillshadows have vanished and darkness is banished
As forward we travel from light into light.
His law he enforces, the stars in theircourses
And sun in its orbit obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
The deeps of the ocean proclaim himdivine.
We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
With glad adoration a Song let us raise
Till all things now living unite inthanksgiving:
“To God in the highest, Hosanna and praise!”