A Kingdom That Never Ends

November 13

(Luke 1:31-33 NIV) “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. {32} 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, {33} and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

(Daniel 6:26 NIV) ““I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.””

(1 Peter 1:24-25 NIV) ““For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, {25} but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.””

The angel Gabriel not only announced to Mary that she would have a baby boy; God’s messenger also told her who the child was destined to become. This baby would grow up to be someone great. He would even be called by many the Son of the Most High God. Jesus would be given the place of his ancestor David -- He would be a King. But Christ’s kingdom would be different. This kingdom would not come and go like other kingdoms before and after it. It would have no end. It would never fall or be destroyed. This baby born to Mary would be the King of kings and the Lord of lords. His Kingdom would be an eternal kingdom. This is the Jesus we are called to follow. This is the Lord we are called to serve. This is the Kingdom in which we are invited to take part. Have you committed yourself to God’s Kingdom? Is Jesus your King? Will you live as if He were your King today? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Name Jesus

November 12

(Luke 1:28-31 NIV) ““The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." {29} Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. {30} But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. {31} You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.””

(Matthew 1:21-23 NIV) ““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." {22} All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: {23} "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us.””

(Philippians 2:8-11 NIV) “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! {9} Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, {11} and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

(Romans 10:8-11 NIV) ““But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: {9} That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. {10} For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. {11} As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.””

Mary was disturbed by the angel’s visit. What the angel called “favor” seemed like big trouble to her. Being pregnant out of wedlock would bring her shame, and possibly even death. But Mary and Joseph both received the same message: “Don’t be afraid. What’s happening to you is a God thing. You will have a son and His name is to be Jesus.” The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew word "Joshua", which means “Jehovah is salvation”. In Scripture, Joshua was a great leader who saved God’s people from their enemies and led them into the Promised Land. This baby was to be given the name of “Savior”, because He would save His people from their sins. He would be the “God who saves”. Jesus is still the God who saves, and at His name, every knee will eventually bow. But only those who bow on this side of eternity will be saved. Bow before Him today. Jesus is Lord. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Virgin Mary

November 11

(Luke 1:26-27 NIV) "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, {27} to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary."

(Matthew 1:19-25 NIV) "Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her 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." {22} All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: {23} "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us." {24} When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. {25} But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."

(Isaiah 7:14 NIV) "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

The virgin birth is an essential ingredient of the Christian faith. Isaiah prophesied three things about the birth of the coming Messiah: a virgin would become pregnant, the child born to her would be a male, and that child would be called Immanuel, which means “God with us”. The power of the Most High overshadowed Mary, and the Son of God was conceived in her. It brings back the imagery of “the Spirit of God hovering over the waters” in the first chapter of Genesis. God speaks a word, and Light comes to the world. God speaks, and Life happens. The virgin birth was a necessity if Jesus was to be “the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. If Mary was not a virgin, and Jesus had a human father, He could not have been “God with us”, and He could not “save His people from their sins”. But it is true, and because it’s true, we can be saved. Believe! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

God’s Choice Couple

November 10

(Luke 1:26-28 NIV)  "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, {27} to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. {28} The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.""

(Matthew 1:18-21 NIV)  "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 to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her 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.""

God chose the home where Jesus would grow up. He handpicked the Dad and Mom who would raise His Son -- the couple who would change the diapers of the Savior of the world. He chose Joseph and Mary. What did God see in these two that qualified them to be parents to the Lord of the universe? He saw a commitment to purity. He saw a couple with merciful hearts. He saw their spiritual sensitivity. They had a willingness to obey in spite of tough circumstances -- a faith that would act in spite of doubt. He saw a couple who would behave courageously in spite of adversity. They were a choice couple, and they are models for us today. We too, can make choices like they did. Recommit to purity. Hear the cries for mercy around you. Be sensitive to God’s leading. Obey God’s voice. Stretch your faith. Be courageous in adverse situations. You too, can become a “choice” disciple. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day