A difficult day as friends are dealing with the death of a young son and another friend is dealing with a severe shoulder injury. Father, the world about us is never stagnant. Life moves forward, often at an alarming rate, caring not who is hurt as it barrels forward. Father, I would pray for my friends, may they find comfort in Your arms and in the arms of Your children who embrace them, as well. Amen.

Luke 1:46-56 (<<click to read the passage)

A few years back I preached a sermon series on the upside-down Kingdom. God’s ways are most certainly not man’s ways. Here are a few of them.

As I was reading through Mary’s song of praise, verses 51-53 grabbed my attention.

His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.

That’s a little topsy-turvy to the way the world thinks. As a follower of Jesus in the “real” world, if you will, it is a challenge to get our brains to think the way God thinks (the more time we spend with Him the easier it becomes!) But what is a common mindset amongst all of us? Get to the top of the heap! That seems to be the goal no matter where you are. I have kindergarteners already complaining that they have to sit in the front of the bus, they want the seats of prestige in the back of the bus! Many people’s goals are to be the leaders, the supervisors the managers – and really its no different in the church. It’s all about power and the sway we can wield.

The proud and haughty ones…the princes on their thrones have been brought down but the humble are exalted.

The haves become the have nots and visa versa. The hungry have been filled…with good things and those with everything are sent away with empty hands.

Our culture touts that we deserve to have everything we want regardless of cost, regardless of who gets hurt. And many of us, followers of Jesus included, live that way!

Lord Jesus, may we take Paul’s statement in Romans 12:2 (AMP) to heart.

And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Oct 14th, 2019, Mon, 5:40 pm