DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 12.19.20

Redeemed Life, Redeemed Name - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. �Luke 1:32 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/redeemed-life-redeemed-name/- Listen During Jesus�s earthly ministry, people identified him as Jesus, the son of David. The angel Gabriel announced to Mary, �You will conceive and give birth to a son, and youwill name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David� (Luke 1:31�32 NLT). And Bartimaeus, who was blind, called out to Jesus, �Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!� (Mark 10:47 NLT). David not only was part of Jesus�s family tree, but he alsowas the most important member of it (other than Jesus Himself). The Bible dedicates a lot of ink to David�s life and exploits. He�s uniquely called �a man after [God�s] own heart� (1 Samuel 13:14 NLT). God plucked him out of obscurityand directed the prophet Samuel to anoint him to replace the wicked King Saul. David was the greatest of all of the kings of Israel. We know about his victories, including the defeat of Goliath, a massive giant of a man. We also know about his horrible failure with Bathsheba, identified in Matthew�s genealogy as the wife of Uriah (see 1:6 NKJV). David committed adultery with Bathsheba, andhe tried to cover it up. That didn�t work, and so he effectively had Bathsheba�s husband killed in battle. You could sum up David�s name with two other names: Goliath (his greatest victory) and Bathsheba (his worst defeat). Yet David makes it into the most exclusive genealogyin all of human history. Even after all the mistakes David made, he was part of this exclusive genealogy. Talk about the redemption of a life and a name. God redeemed David despite his shortcomings. In the same way, God can redeem your life. And He can redeem your name as well. An Eternal Moment by Katherine Britton "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." John 1:1-2 The very concept of time fascinates me. Add the prospect of eternity, and I get as dizzy as anyone. Still, I can't help contemplating the mysteries of my little life running parallel to a greater human history, running parallel to a universe that doesn'tmeasure time in rotations of the earth but by the speed of light. And then - no longer running parallel to, but encompassing that straight line of history into some greater sphere - comes eternity. Or rather, there is eternity. Or will be. Or… well, you cansee why my head starts hurting when I try to visualize this mystery. A lot of my fascination with time and eternity centers on the eternal God (Isaiah 26:4) who allowed himself to be constrained by that which he had created - time. The tangled and complex poetry of T. S. Eliot best expressesmy fascination with the Incarnation: "Then came, at a predetermined moment, a moment in time and of time, A moment not out of time, but in time, in what we call history: transecting, bisecting the world of time, a moment in time but not like a moment of time, A moment in time but time was made through that moment: for without the meaning there is no time, and that moment of time gave the meaning." (from "The Rock, VII") Consider that last line again: "… time was made through that moment: for without the meaning there is no time, and that moment of time gave the meaning." The first step of redemption began when the Jesus, who was "with God in the beginning," stepped into time and allowed himself to be bound by it for a time. I wonder if that act of limiting himself was how he began to enter into our suffering with us. He stepped into a world where the end point is death, and after that - a meaningless eternity away from any outside purpose. It took divine intervention - a breathof eternity - to change that. As I ponder these high and lofty mysteries that go way beyond my comprehension (Psalms 139:6), it's tempting to let my head run away in the clouds with no practical application. But Ephesians says something very different: Finding Satisfaction Philippians4:11-13 God has provided us with many things to enjoy. But too often our lives are filled with turmoil instead of contentment. Four practices that create dissatisfaction are . . . Busyness. We live in a hurry-up society, dashing from one activity to another. Jesus did not rush anywhere, yet He accomplished whateverGod gave Him to do. Not once did He tell His followers to move faster. He even praised Mary for choosing to stop her work and spend time with Him (Luke10:39, 42). Earthly perspective. Too often we live focused on our circumstances. Our minds think about what happened earlier in the week, what’s ontoday’s agenda, and the activities occurring next week, month, or year. No wonder enjoyment of life remains elusive. The solution is to have an eternal perspective, which acknowledges that God is in charge and our goal is to please Him. Self-imposed pressure. We have all experienced the unavoidable burdens of schoolwork, employment, and relationships. But we bring needlesspressure on ourselves when we allow unnecessary “musts” and “shoulds” to rule us. The remedy is to turn to God, acknowledge His right to order our days, and ask for His plan. Unhealthy attitudes. Perfectionism, false guilt, and apathy all undermine our enjoyment of life. Satisfaction is found in a life that reflects God’s priorities—and time with Him comes first. Reading His Word, we become mindful of the Father’s great love, learn what He views as important, and experience the joy of belonging to Him. When contentment is elusive,it’s time to examine our priorities. Where is Your Joy? by Debbie Holloway But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 The winter season can be bleak for many. Students are preoccupied with their work. Others become easily stressed with the pressure to plan (and cook for) family gatherings associated with the various winter holidays. Some of us even struggle with S.A.D (seasonalaffective disorder), a medical condition where melancholy and sorrow creep up, due in part to the lack of sunshine. There is something special, then, about the coming of spring. About seeing daffodils peek their yellow heads above the ground for the first time. I imagine the Jews of Jesus’ day longed for the spring of the Lord’s favor. No word from the Lord had come for a long time. Jews were living under a powerful, pagan Roman government. While the people were not necessarily miserable or oppressed, their joyperhaps had worn a little thin. They no doubt pined for something better. Imagine, next, the Shepherds who were visited by Angels on the night of Christ’s birth. The hum-drum of their evening duties, perhaps even their sleep, was interrupted in a big way. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were terrified. But the terror was short-lived, of course. What terror can stand against such amazing, incredible, joy? A savior has been born to you. Fringe Issues “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.” (2Timothy 2:24) One of the plagues of modern-day Christendom is that many take up side issues and deem them all-important— a point of separation between them and other Christians. Health foods, dress codes, and church constitutions are not unimportant, but Christians can holddifferent opinions and still be walking with God. Note the scriptural admonitions: “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace [i.e., primary issues]; not with meats [i.e., fringeissues], which have not profited them that have been occupied therein” (Hebrews 13:9); “foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do genderstrifes” (2 Timothy 2:23). On the other hand, there are many scriptural commands to hold “fast the faithful word” (Titus 1:9); to “keep that which is committed to thy trust” (1Timothy 6:20). Many of these points of “sound doctrine” (Titus 1:9) are absolutely essential, such as the deity of Christ, the authority of Scripture,salvation by grace, the resurrection of Christ, and many others clearly and specifically taught in Scripture. Perhaps the rule might be, if it’s an essential doctrine, teach and defend it at all costs; if it’s a secondary doctrine, teach it in “meekness” andlove (2 Timothy 2:25). But if it’s a fringe issue, avoid strife over it, allowing brothers to exercise their freedom. Is creationism a fringe issue? No! Few doctrines are so clearly taught in Scripture. Is it crucial to salvation? No! But it is essential to adequately understand the great primary doctrines for it is foundational to them all. Furthermore, it is the subjectof origins, which the enemy has identified as a major battleground, vowing to destroy Christianity over this issue. Here we must stand if we are to guard our faith. JDM Cursedor Blessed “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heartdeparteth from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5) Jeremiah provides for us a striking contrast between the self-assured humanist and the one who has placed his trust in God. The man who looks to his own abilities or those of others to save him in time of trouble is “cursed.” His existence will be one of futility,just as is that of a parched desert plant (v. 6). Why? Because his “heart departeth from the LORD” (v. 5), the source of strength and salvation. Jeremiah uses a play on words here. The words for “man” in our text are different: the first means “warrior” or “strong man,” and the second a “normal man.” The warrior who should be strong is cursed because he is trusting in one who is weak; in this case,any other man’s wisdom or might, or even his own strength, when overestimated. What sense is there in that? In contrast, “blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD” (v. 7). “He shall be as a tree planted by the waters,...and shall not be careful [i.e., anxious] in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit” (v. 8). Why? Because his “hope theLORD is” (v. 7). We see the warrior—one who might be considered strong—trusting solely in the true “strong man,” the Lord. It is a tragic fact that even many Christians fall into the mindset of the autonomous humanist and attempt to live their lives (even “the Christian life”) under their own power. Do we trust in our own feeble power or in the Lord? Every heart, whether humanistor Christian, “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (v. 9). Make no mistake! “I the LORD search the heart” (v. 10); He knows our inner motives. Let us recommit ourselves to trust in the Lord and make Him our hope. JDM A Lifestyle of Obedience John14:15-21 According to John14:21, we express love for Jesus by obeying His commands. To love Him wholeheartedly, we must develop a lifestyle of obedience. Let's look at four aspects of such a lifestyle. 1. Our trust in the Father grows. This confidence comes from believing that the Lord is who Scripture says He is. And God's Word tells usthat He is good—as well as faithful to keep His promises (2Cor. 1:20). Psalm86:15 calls Him merciful, gracious, loving, and slow to anger. His character remains unchanged by difficult or hard-to-understand circumstances (Heb.13:8). 2. We develop a deepening ability to waiton the Lord. Delays can be hard in our I-want-it-now culture. But we must resist temptation and wait on Him instead of running ahead. 3. We commit to obey God. Without such a resolve, we'll vacillate at decision time or allow fear to prevent us from choosing His way. 4. Our study of Scripture becomes consistent. The Bible reveals God's priorities, commands, and warnings. It acts as a light, illuminating His chosen path for us while revealing obstacles and dangers along the way (Ps.119:105). Without it, we are like a person who walks in the woods at night without aflashlight. Becoming a Christian doesn't mean that obedience to the Lord is automatic. It's a lifelong process of growing in our trust and patiently waiting on Him before we act. This requires a steadfast commitment to obey so that we can say no to ungodly choices andyes to God. Shieldedby the Word “I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” (Psalm119:113-114) The Bible is replete with military imagery. We are told to “wrestle” against the “spiritual wickedness in high places” and to be sure that we put on “the whole armour of God” (Ephesians6:12-13). As the good soldiers of the King, we are told to “endure hardness” (2Timothy 2:3) and expected, as His army, to be about the “pulling down of strong holds” (2Corinthians 10:4). David was a warrior king, and many of his psalms contain battle terms used both literally and figuratively to show the way God protects and provides for us in spiritual warfare. The “hiding place” David often mentioned was a secret retreat that provided shelterfrom the enemy (Psalm32:7). The “shield” can refer to the same sort of retreat but is most often used to describe a soldier’s defensive buckler. Faith is our shield in spiritual warfare (Ephesians6:16). Thus, in this stanza (Psalm119:113-120), the psalmist visualized God in the role of Protector and Captain. He looked to God for his life while being upheld “according unto thy word” (v. 116). Safety was no doubt prominent in his thoughts while affirming that he had continual respectfor God’s statutes (v. 117). The psalmist was also fearfully aware of God’s take-no-prisoners attitude toward those who are against Him (vv. 118-119). While our gracious Lord and King is patient toward all sinners, His ultimate plan is to “put down all rule and all authority and power” (1Corinthians 15:24). Knowing this, the psalmist concluded: “My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments” (Psalm119:120). Only a fool refuses to fear the Creator’s wrath. HMM III It's Delightful By Shawn McEvoy Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.- Psalms 37:4 Today's verse is one of the first I ever learned as a Christian. You probably know it by heart, too. Seems like everyone quotes it. When I learned it as a kid, I couldn't help but thinking it sounded really good, with overtones of blessings and whatevermy heart desired, which in later years came to be symbolized in my own mind as a Corvette... even though I would always be one of the first to tell people that's not what it meant. But it wasn't until the last few years that I came to understand it on another level. Fatherhood will do that to a guy in a lot of ways. When my kids were infants and dependent upon me and my wife for absolutely everything, I saw our own dependence uponGod in a whole new light. Now that the kids are four and two, I'm getting a new take on what it is to "delight" in the Lord. I'd of course recognized there should be joy in following God, and that He was in all ways wonderful. But never did I come into His presence like my children now regularly come into mine, especially when I come home from work. The screaming, the jumpingup and down, the laughing. The rush to tell me everything about their days, both the triumphs and the things they got in trouble for. The hugs, the requests to be tossed in the air or chased, the search in my briefcase to see if any treasures have found theirway home with me, it all comes with a priceless gleam in their eyes as they search me to know themselves better. That's delight. And, the Bible says that's what causes God to give us the desires of our heart? Honestly, that kind of delight, that kind of amazing high, is kind of a euphoric state of its own. I mean, what more does one needbut to feel like that about God? Most days, I'd give anything to feel that kind of rush it seems my kids must feel. It's almost like that's my heart's desire. And it's like this verse is saying that desire is right here for the very taking, that all I have to do is act on it. I'm a child of the King, and He's never away at work. I don't even have to wait for him to come home. I'm welcome to come boldly into thethrone room and praise the wow out of Him. To marvel, wonder, and laugh giddily at His creative handiwork and what He's done for me. To rush to tell him everything about my day, both the triumphs and the spots where I got myself into trouble. Trusting in God's Faithfulness 1Thessalonians 5:16-24 Is there something God has told you to do that seems just too difficult? You can be sure that if He has called you to carry out His will, He’s going to be faithful to accomplish it through His Spirit livingand working in you. So if you tell Him, “I can’t do that, Lord—what if I fail?” you’re really saying, “God doesn’t keep His word.” And yet, our total expectation should be in Him—not in our own energy, ability, or experience. When you doubt God’s trustworthiness, that unbelief becomes a gap in your spiritual armor, and you can be sure that’s exactly where Satan will attack you. You’ll begin to doubt even more about God’s character,such as His goodness—and that distrust will become a heavy load of baggage you’ll needlessly drag through every area of your life. TheUrgency of Salvation “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee:behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2Corinthians 6:2) Perhaps the most deadly sin of the unbeliever is that of procrastination. Satisfied with his current life, he neglects his spiritual need. Even if he understands the gospel and realizes his need of salvation, he still puts off a decision. But it is always dangerous to count too strongly on tomorrow. “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James4:14). The sin of procrastination may easily become the sin of negligence, then of indifference, and finally the unforgivable sin of irrevocable rejection and unbelief. “My spirit shall not always strive with man” (Genesis6:3). This warning was true in the antediluvian world and it is certainly as true today, when we have far more knowledge and evidence of God’s truth and His will than people did in the days of Noah. “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart” (Psalm95:7-8). This warning of the psalmist was considered so important that the writer of Hebrews quoted it three times (Hebrews3:7-8, 15; 4:7). Such an emphasis suggests there is indeed great danger in resisting God’s call to salvation. There may be another opportunity, but it is presumptuous and dangerous to impose too long on God’s patient mercy. Today is the day of salvation. The accepted time is now! “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing,and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?...It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews10:29, 31). HMM Lightfrom the Word “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm119:105) One of the more beautiful metaphors in the Bible, “light” is used either metaphorically or literally to stress understanding, knowledge, or truth. When inaccurate interpretations of God’s Word are taught, Isaiah said it is “because there is no light in them” (Isaiah8:20). Peter noted that prophetic insight is like “light that shineth in a dark place” (2Peter 1:19). One of the Lord’s most memorable statements was “I am the light of the world” (John8:12). Little wonder, then, that in this majestic psalm centering on the Word of God, this stanza (Psalm119:105-112) acknowledges the role executed by the Scriptures “as the light that goeth forth” (Hosea6:5). The psalmist again mentioned his affliction (v. 107) and that his soul was constantly “in my hand” (Psalm119:107, a Hebrew idiom for constant danger; see 1 Samuel 28:21). But nonetheless, his instant reaction was to focus on the “righteous judgments” of God and a promise to “not forget thy law” (Psalm119:109). He begged for the Lord to teach him God’s “judgments” (v. 108) and promised not to err “from thy precepts” (v. 110). Thus, woven throughout the stanza are the constant paradoxical tensions of supplication for relief from the wicked efforts to “snare” him (see 2 Timothy 2:26) and the confidence that whatever conditions may develop, the written Word of God would provide answers. Those words are “the rejoicing” of his heart (119:111), much like when David sang, “Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD” (Psalm105:3). Finally, in the last line of this stanza, the psalmist challenged us to embrace his own commitment to the Word of God as he wrote, “I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end” (Psalm119:112). HMM III Lifein the Blood “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonementfor your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” (Leviticus17:11) This great verse contains a wealth of scientific and spiritual truth. It was not realized until the discovery of the circulation of the blood by the creation scientist William Harvey, in about 1620, that biological “life” really is maintained by the blood,which both brings nourishment to all parts of the body and also carries away its wastes. Its spiritual truth is even more significant. The blood, when shed on the altar, would serve as an “atonement” (literally “covering”) for the soul of the guilty sinner making the offering. In fact, the “life” of the flesh is actually its “soul,” for “life” and “soul” both translate the same Hebrew word (nephesh) in this text. When the blood was offered, it was thus an offering of life itself in substitution for the life of the sinner who deserved to die. Human sacrifices, of course, were prohibited. No man could die for another man, for his blood would inevitably be contaminated by his own sin. Therefore, the blood of a “clean animal” was required. Animals do not possess the “image of God” (Genesis1:27), including the ability to reason about right and wrong, and therefore cannot sin. Even such clean blood could only serve as a temporary covering, and it could not really “take away” sin. For a permanent solution to the sin problem, nothing less wasrequired than that of the sinless “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John1:29). “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews9:12). Since His life was in His blood, He has “made peace through the blood of his cross” (Colossians1:20). HMM Blessed Are You Among Women! By Sarah Phillips In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to the city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filledwith the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears,the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." - Luke1: 39 - 45 You don't need me to tell you Christmas is here. Chances are, this past week, you've been rushing around trying to get last-minute errands completed. I had a mental list of "must do's" running through my own head. So as I read the gospel for the final Sunday of Advent, I was struck by how Mary prepared for Christ's coming. Mary received the biggest news of human history, the coming of the Messiah (through her?!), and what did she do? Mary set aside her own agenda and "went with haste" to visit her cousin Elizabeth. At this point, Elizabeth's pregnancy is entering the final trimester and no doubt this older mother is tired and in need of assistance. I imagine Mary must have had a lot of thoughts running through her head on the way to Judah. "Is Elizabeth really pregnant in her old age? She must be… but really? And how am I going to explain my situation to Elizabeth? Will she believe me?" Mary's arrival is one of those great moments in history - a moment that reverberates throughout the ages that follow. This simple story of two pregnant women meeting carries so many implications. Some of the themes that stick out to me include: 1. Mary's faith. Mary was obedient to God and put faith in him. She set aside her own comfort and questions to help Elizabeth. Mary's virtue shines through here, and God throws in a little reward - a miraculous and joyful greeting from Elizabeth. 2. Elizabeth's selflessness. Elizabeth's news is a pretty big deal. Her husband receives a vision from an angel and she conceives in her old age after years of waiting. Yet, her first response focuses not on her big news, but on Mary's.This reveals Elizabeth's virtue and also adds emphasis to the reality that Mary's news holds even more profound implications for humanity than Elizabeth's miracle. 3. The humanity of the unborn. In those days, pregnant women didn't enjoy the luxury of ultrasound technology. Yet, God makes the humanity of these little ones very clear here. Elizabeth exclaims, "And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Elizabeth refers to Mary as "mother" in the present tense and she refers to the growing baby inside of Mary (who probably wasn't even showing yet) with his proper title: Lord. God was "with us" the moment Maryconceived, and even the unborn John the Baptist recognized this! Contagious Joy 1John 1:1-4 Jesus calls us to be His “witnesses.” When some Christians hear this word, they worry that they need exceptional skill or charisma in order to share the good news with others. Yet to witness is not to merely speak of the “plan of salvation” to someone. The word literally means to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception; to testify; bear witness to; give or afford evidence of. When John wrote that he was sharing what he had experienced first-hand, he was saying, “Iam full of joy because of the experience of knowing Jesus, and I want to invite you to share in that joy!” Howto Keep from Falling “For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walkbefore God in the light of the living?” (Psalm56:13) Once a person receives Christ as Savior, he must begin, then continue, in the Christian life. There will be many temptations along the way, however, as well as many pressures to recant, many sorrows, many difficulties. How is the “babe” in Christ to keep fromstumbling and falling? The answer, of course, is that we are kept by the same grace that saved us in the first place! The Lord Jesus died to save us from eternal death in hell; surely we can “be saved by his life” from falling while living (Romans5:10). Our beautiful text verse anticipates this great New Testament truth. If the Lord can deliver my soul from death, surely He can keep my feet from falling! Other wonderful verses in the Psalms give the same assurance. For example: “The steps of agood man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm37:23-24). It is important, of course, that each person professing faith in Christ be sure that his faith is real, founded on the true Jesus Christ as Creator, Redeemer, and Lord, not a sentimental faith in “another Jesus,...or another gospel” (2Corinthians 11:4). As Peter urges: “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2Peter 1:10). And then, in the last words of the New Testament before the book of Revelation, we are directed again to Christ. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the onlywise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” (Jude1:24- 25). What a blessed assurance is this! HMM Living in Obscurity - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org And Mary said: �My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.� �Luke 1:46�47 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/living-in-obscurity/- Listen Mary is the only woman who had Jesus both in her womb and in her heart. She was living in Nazareth, a nowhere town in a nowhere place. Nazareth was known for its wickedness. In fact, when Philip invited Nathanael to see Jesus, Nathanael asked, �Can anything good come out of Nazareth?� (John 1:46 NKJV). Roman soldiers stopped in Nazareth on their way from one place to another. And more than one young girl living in the city ended up pregnant out of wedlock. Despite thisimmoral backdrop, Mary lived a godly life. She wasn�t some princess; she was just an ordinary peasant girl. But God handpicked her to be the most privileged woman to ever walk the earth. God chose her to be the motherof the Messiah and sent the angel Gabriel to tell her. Two angels stand out in Scripture: Michael and Gabriel. And when one of them shows up, you know something big is going down. Gabriel said to Mary, �Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!� (Luke 1:28 NKJV). Loosely paraphrased, he was saying, �God has handpickedyou to be the mother of the Messiah.� Mary was surprised because she had true humility. In fact, the more spiritual you are, the more aware you�ll be of your own sinfulness. Later, in what is known as the Magnificat,Mary said, �My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant� (Luke 1:47�48 NKJV). Maybe you�ve thought, �I�m living in obscurity, nobody cares about me, and my life doesn�t matter.� Your life does matter. It matters a lot. God is at work in your life.And just as He was preparing Mary, He�s preparing you for the plans He has for you. It�sTime to Forgive - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. �Ephesians 4:32 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/its-time-to-forgive/- Listen As Christmas approaches, you�ll probably be gathering with family. Maybe you�ll be traveling, or maybe your family will be coming to you. There are some family members that you�re probably looking forward to seeing. And there are some that perhaps you�re not looking forward to seeing because they�ve hurt you.So I�d like to offer a word of advice this Christmas: forgive people who�ve wronged you and hurt you in life. I don�t know what those people have done. But I do know what God has done. Ephesians 4 says, �Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well asall types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you� (verses 31�32 NLT). Here�s my question for you: Do you deserve to be forgiven by God? No, you don�t. Neither do I. But He forgave us. Therefore, we should forgive others. It isn�t about whether they deserve forgiveness. Forgiving someone isn�t letting them off the hook. Forgiving someone is a way for you to be free from a life of bitterness.Otherwise, you can be living in a prison of anger and even despair. Really, forgiveness is more for you than it is for the one who wronged you. As I�ve said many times, when you forgive someone, you set a prisoner free: yourself. You�re the one who�s being tortured, so let it go. Forgive. That is the unique characteristic of a true follower of Jesus Christ. We have the ability, given to us from God,to forgive people who have done horrible things to us. It might surprise you to know that failing to forgive others, even when they have sinned against you, is a sin on your part against God. If you�re a Christian, then youneed to be a forgiving person. The Greatest Gift Ever - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. �Romans 6:23 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-greatest-gift-ever/- Listen This is the time of year when we focus so much on giving gifts. But the gift God has for you is the ultimate gift. It�s the only gift that really keeps on giving. It willnever wear out and will never grow old. In fact, it will become more precious to you with the passing of time. As you get older, you�ll begin to discover all this gift is because the greatest blessing of it isthe hope of life beyond the grave�not just purpose and meaning in this life we�re living right now. Think of what God has done. He has given everything that He possibly could to give us the gift of Jesus Christ. Imagine how hard it was for the Father to send His Son tothis earth and watch how they mistreated Him, how they wouldn�t even find a proper place for Him to be born, and the treatment He received throughout His life. We as parents know how hard it is to watch our kids suffer. We know if ever there were an opportunity, we would gladly trade places with our kids when they are sick or goingthrough hardship. We love the picture of Jesus in the manger as a sweet baby. But that Jesus came to die. The shadow of the cross was over that cradle. From the moment He came to this earth,He was headed for a certain goal. He went to the cross and died for us and then rose from the grave three days later. Jesus wouldn�t let anyone or anything keep Him from that goal. And because He reached it, we have forgiveness today. The greatest gift ever isn�t under your tree at home. It�s the ultimate gift that God sent to show His love for us�the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ ourLord. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM