Hey everyone!
How has your New Year been so far? The past two weeks have been busy and filled with a lot, both good and bad. As I thought about writing this lesson I have realized how it applies to me as well.
I pulled out my Sunday School book to study this week's lesson, but the Holy Spirit told me to study last weeks lesson. So I opened my book, opened my Bible, got my pen ready, and went into study mode! I was enjoying Acts 16, reading of Paul and Silas spreading the Good News and the mighty ways God used them. My Sunday School book pointed out other people (Sarah, Joseph and Mary) in the Bible who had good news to share as well. As I was reading this I started to think of how these different people reacted to what God said or what was happening in their lives.
The first example was Sarah who reacted to God's news for her by laughing at the news that God would allow her to have a child, and then she denied that she had laughed! Genesis 18:9-15
Next was Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers, wrongfully put in jail in Egypt and then was in a position where he could put revenge on his brothers but didn't; through it all he was faithful to God! Genesis chapters 37, 39-45
The last example was Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was almost divorced by her espoused and most likely faced ridicule and rejection from family and community for being pregnant out of wedlock. Even with these possibilities she still said "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants." Luke 1:26-38
After I thought about the lives of these three examples it made me wonder, how do I react to something God tells me? What is my reaction to every day events and do my reactions show the world that Christ lives in me? I can think of a couple examples from this week where my reactions were not so loving: I didn't help someone in the store parking lot because I wondered what other people would think of me. I wasn't nice and pulled out in front of someone about to cross the street because the light was green and I was "right".
I would just like to remind you that we who have accepted Jesus are lights to this world. We are mirrors reflecting God, and how we react to a situation today may be the way someone sees Jesus and accepts Him tomorrow.
Be blessed, beloveds!
Matthew 5:16
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| Ooo, this lesson is making me think! |
How has your New Year been so far? The past two weeks have been busy and filled with a lot, both good and bad. As I thought about writing this lesson I have realized how it applies to me as well.
I pulled out my Sunday School book to study this week's lesson, but the Holy Spirit told me to study last weeks lesson. So I opened my book, opened my Bible, got my pen ready, and went into study mode! I was enjoying Acts 16, reading of Paul and Silas spreading the Good News and the mighty ways God used them. My Sunday School book pointed out other people (Sarah, Joseph and Mary) in the Bible who had good news to share as well. As I was reading this I started to think of how these different people reacted to what God said or what was happening in their lives.
The first example was Sarah who reacted to God's news for her by laughing at the news that God would allow her to have a child, and then she denied that she had laughed! Genesis 18:9-15
Next was Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers, wrongfully put in jail in Egypt and then was in a position where he could put revenge on his brothers but didn't; through it all he was faithful to God! Genesis chapters 37, 39-45
The last example was Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was almost divorced by her espoused and most likely faced ridicule and rejection from family and community for being pregnant out of wedlock. Even with these possibilities she still said "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants." Luke 1:26-38
After I thought about the lives of these three examples it made me wonder, how do I react to something God tells me? What is my reaction to every day events and do my reactions show the world that Christ lives in me? I can think of a couple examples from this week where my reactions were not so loving: I didn't help someone in the store parking lot because I wondered what other people would think of me. I wasn't nice and pulled out in front of someone about to cross the street because the light was green and I was "right".
I would just like to remind you that we who have accepted Jesus are lights to this world. We are mirrors reflecting God, and how we react to a situation today may be the way someone sees Jesus and accepts Him tomorrow.
Be blessed, beloveds!
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.
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