Pastor Cory Smithee
Christmas Matrix Reloaded Part 2
Submission | Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary: Voluntary placement of oneself under the authority and leadership of another.
Obedience | Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: To obey or not to obey the Lord God—this has been and is the crucial question for every human being. Obedience as opposed to disobedience is a life-and-death issue. God has given humankind the innate power of choice: the choice of obedience leads to God’s promised blessing of life.
Luke 1:26–27 (ESV) 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
Luke 1:28–33 (ESV) 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke 1:34–38 (ESV) 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Dwight L. Moody- There will be no peace in any soul until it is willing to obey the voice of God.
Penned Truth: The Church must live before the world like Mary, a life of submission and faithful obedience to God’s plan.
Olivia Sinaga- “What we really need is only a heart of surrender & always trust what God has plan for our life.
Matthew 20:25-28 (EXB) 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the ·Gentiles [nations] love to ·show their power [lord it] over the people. And their ·important leaders [high officials; L great ones] love to ·use [exert] their authority [over them]. 26 But it should not be [must not be; is not to be] that way among you. [Instead, But] Whoever wants to become great among you must ·serve the rest of you like a servant [be your servant]. 27 Whoever wants to become first among you must ·serve all of you like a slave [be slave of all]. 28 In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served.
Betty Scott Stam- Much of our frustration is the result of not embracing this statement, “Not my will but Yours be done.”
Final Statement: Mary’s “yes” is not taken lightly by me. Her “yes” changed my life. A life of chaos and darkness to a life of freedom and joy. When Mary said “yes,” she welcomed God to change the course of her life. A change that would bring a savior, a change well worth allowing. Will we say “yes” and let our life become one of servanthood and obedience so we can watch the world around us change because of the choice to be fully surrendered?
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