CHRIST AT THE CENTER

2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The Mature Characters of Joseph

Mat. 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce he quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his  people from their sins”

The obedience of Mary played a big role in the birth of Jesus, but Joseph also played a big role. When Joseph got to know that Mary was pregnant, he tried to divorce her quietly. Likewise, Joseph had a very caring heart. Before making decisions, he always thought a lot. And he did not sleep with Mary before she gave birth to Jesus. He was a holy person.

God entrusted baby Jesus to such Joseph.

We need to take the example of Joseph who has a caring heart, who does not make rash decisions but decides after careful examination and  who keeps his holiness.

Shalom and God bless us!!!

The Obedience of Mary

Luke 1:30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you.
1:31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was,
1:33 and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!”
1:34 Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?”
1:35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God’s power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God.
1:36 Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old.
1:37 For there is nothing that God cannot do.”
1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her

The birth of a savior was God’s plan that nobody expected. To receive the punishment of sins of all sinners, he must be born as human. Because he needed to be born sinlessly, he was born of the Spirit not through the man and woman relationship.

When an angel told Mary that she would give birth to a son, she was confused but the angel told her that nothing is impossible with God. Mary believed it and obeyed. She called herself as a servent.

Through obedient Mary, finally the way through which great savior comes was opened. Either small or big, God’s will would achieve through obedience. To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. (1 Sam 15:22)

Shalom & God Bless!!!

Meeting

Acts 16:1 He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

There are several characteristics of Paul’s 2nd mission trip.

1.  He got to meet several good coworkers.

2. He stayed in some important cities and did his ministry.

3. The gospel went into Europe.

4. He started to write letters.

Meeting good coworkers is very important because the future of a mission depends on whom we meet and who we are with. Paul met faithful and well-praised Timothy. He was a mixed-blood and had some worldly weaknesses, but was a well-praised person in the large area of Lystra and Iconium.

Likewise, I hope that we would first become a person whom people well speak of and meet people who receive compliments from people so that through our lives and ministry, the name of the Lord will be glorified and God’s kingdom will be expanded. Shalom

To be come one for the expansion of God’s kingdom

(Acts 14:25 [NET])
and when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all the things God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. 28 So they spent considerable time with the disciples.

Today’s verses describes the scene that Paul and Barnabas returned from the first mission trip to the Antioch Church. They were send by the Antioch Church and received the material and prayer support from it. And they returned to the Antioch Church and did the mission report.

Not only Paul and Barnabas who were sent but also the Antioch Churchwho sent all became one and put their effort for the expansion of God’s kingdom. They, the warriors of Christ, all met together., shared the mission, the work of the Holy spirit and the sufferings and rejoiced in Christ.

I hope that we would have such comfort and joy because of the same Lord, same purpose and same hearts. Shalom and God Bless abundantly.