Answering the Call to Pray First of All
Kenneth Copeland Ministries
Morning
Verse
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You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ” Luke 1:31
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Reflection
This is the second miraculous birth that the angel Gabriel announces in this chapter. In the introductory verses, we read of Elizabeth-a post-menopausal woman who had been "barren" during her child-bearing years. An "angel of the Lord" appeared to her husband, Zacharias (a priest), and informed him that they would have a son, whom they should name "John" (which means "Jehovah is a gracious giver").
In V:31, Gabriel appears to Mary and announces to her that she, like Elizabeth, is about to experience a miraculous conception and birth. Mary also learns that her son (Jesus), like Elizabeth's son (John), will have a divine calling that will impact the world. Thus, these are no "common" women; and their sons will be no "common" boys.
What's curious about this chapter is that the angel, in the announcement of both divine births, instructs the soon-to-be parents as to what they should name their sons. Zacharias is told that his son's name should be John-presumably a reference the fact that this couple had never been blessed with children but now, through Jehovah's intervention, the longed-for gift had been realized (John meaning "Jehovah is a gracious giver"). Mary, on the other hand, is commanded to name her son "Jesus" (the Greek version of the Hebrew name "Jeshua")-which means "Jehovah is salvation." Thus, the first baby (John) is a testament that God is a "gracious giver" (something all of us have evidence of in our lives). The second son, who is the most important of the two, is a testament to the fact that, through Him, God will bring salvation to the world.
The thing that matters most about our verse for today is whether you believe in the Virgin Mary's miraculous conception and delivery of none other than the Son of God. If Jesus was anything less than this, then "Jehovah is NOT salvation." However, if Jesus is what Gabriel testified to Mary that He would be, then salvation has come into the world, and you and I have great cause to rejoice. Is there anything more important for you and me to gain a witness of than this? I think not!
Evening
Verse
Sunday, Dec 1
Today's Theme: Faith
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For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” Jeremiah 29:11
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Intepretation of the Verse
In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
