March 5: Are You Ready to Receive the Fuller Life?

At Christian Assembly during the Lent and Easter seasons, we are reading chronologically through the four Gospels with a desire to attain the LIFE that Jesus promised to us: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10b) With everyday’s reading we will seek to see what the Word has to say about the FULLER LIFE we can have in Christ.

Daily Reading: Wednesday, March 5

John 1:1-5

In the Beginning

Luke 1

The Birth of John Foretold

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

Mary Visits Elizabeth

The Birth of John

John 1:9-14

The Word Became Flesh

Our chronological reading of the Gospels begins literally at the beginning.  The Apostle John starts his Gospel by establishing Jesus’ presence at Creation, explaining his work in Creation, and confirming his place with God and as God.  Although John 1 would be a wonderful place to begin our 40-day blog, what is of interest to me today is the foretelling of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, both accounts found in Luke 1.

As we begin this 40-day spiritual emphasis during this Lent season, there are two main points I’d like to emphasize based on the Luke 1 reading:

1) God has ordained this time for us.

The angel Gabriel appeared to the priest Zachariah while he was in the Holy Place of the Temple fulfilling the priestly responsibility of burning incense.  This was the most sacred of duties for the priests, and a priest more than likely only had one opportunity in his entire life to execute such an important task.  Luke 1:9 tells us that Zachariah was chosen “by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood.”  But he was definitely not chosen by chance, for God most assuredly ensured that Zachariah would be chosen that day so that his holy messenger would have the priest’s complete attention in this Holy Place of God’s Temple.

The same is true for us today during this 40-day spiritual emphasis.  God has brought each and every one of us to this place so that we can receive from him the plan that he has for our lives.  It is not by chance that we are now seeking a FULLER LIFE in Jesus.  God has certainly ordained this time.

The second point of emphasis is actually a question:

2) Are You Ready to Receive the Fuller Life?

Zachariah wasn’t; Mary was.  Look at his response to the angel’s promise that he would have a son: “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”  Considering Gabriel’s reaction, we can say with certainty that his question was due to his lack of faith, even though the angel tells us in verse 13 that this was the very thing for which Zachariah had been praying!  Now consider Mary’s response to that same angel’s message that she would have a son:   "I am the Lord's servant.  May your word to me be fulfilled."  She was ready to receive what God had planned for her.

The priest responded to God's promise with uncertainty; the young girl accepted fully what God had for her.   What about you?  Are you ready to receive what he has for you?  Are you ready for the FULLER LIFE that Jesus promised to you in John 10:10?