The Power of the Most High |
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The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God." — Luke 1:35 "The power of the Most High will overshadow you." That is a fascinating, mysterious statement, is it not? "[It] will overshadow you, so the Holy One" — literally the text just says "the Holy" — "to be born will be called the Son of God."
Now we are being told that this supernatural, eternal Being will come into the world through a miraculous birth. And He will be called the Son of God — not merely because His character will bear a strong resemblance to God's, but because the very divine nature of God is going to be implanted in Mary in physical form. And, therefore,
- the One to be born will be perfectly holy, absolutely sinless, and will live forever as a both divine and human person.
It is an utterly astounding statement. And an elegant and concise summary of what has come to be called the doctrine of the incarnation — that God became incarnate when the Son of God assumed a human nature and was born, in the flesh, into the world. ~Encounters with Jesus * |
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"How will this be, since I am a virgin?" |
"How will this be, since I am a virgin?" |
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The Importance of Honest Doubts "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" — Luke 1:34 Mary [...] express[es] her doubts openly. She says to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" [...] Mary is not credulous. She doesn't say, "Well, you're an angel and this is all miraculous. So I'll just accept it." No, she says something any rational person would say. How can she have a child if she isn't having sex? This is an openly expressed doubt — to an angel! That shows a willingness to be honest about her uncertainties and questions. Now, I would say there are two kinds of doubts: dishonest doubts and honest doubts. Dishonest doubts are both proud and cowardly; they show disdain and laziness. A dishonest doubt is to say, "What a crazy idea!" and then just walk away. "That's impossible" (or its more contemporary version, "That's stupid") is an assertion, not an argument. It's a way of getting out of the hard work of thinking. But by contrast, honest doubts are humble, because they lead you to ask questions, not just put up a wall. And when you ask a real question, it makes you somewhat vulnerable. Mary's question to the angel actually asks for information and leaves her open to the possibility of a good answer that would cause her to shift her views. Honest doubts, then, are open to belief. If you are really asking for information and good arguments, you might get some. And here's what I find wonderful. If she had never expressed a doubt, the angel would never have spoken one of the great statements in the Bible: Nothing will be impossible with God. — Luke 1:37 ESV ~Encounters with Jesus |
Excerpted with permission from Go Forward in Love by Timothy Keller, copyright Timothy Keller. * |
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God welcomes our honest questions, our honest doubts. What matters is whether we're open to learning the truth or just pushing Him away with a close-off attitude. Today, ask Him to help. Ask Him to speak. Ask Him to show you His love. Nothing is impossible for Him! He came as flesh and blood through a young virgin and yet was utterly divine. That's the God who loves you! ~ Devotionals Daily |
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Daily guidance from one of our generation's most trusted spiritual leaders |
Go Forward in Love: A Year of Daily Readings from Timothy Keller |
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+ FREE shipping on all orders over $20 with code SHIP20 |
From the works of pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller comes this yearlong compilation with daily readings from his best-loved books. The perfect 365-daily reader for both new and longtime admirers of Timothy Keller's writing, Go Forward in Love features deep insights, profound truths, and biblical wisdom on topics such as prayer, forgiveness, loving our neighbors, the importance of work, and the hope of the resurrection. Each day's reading is short, but will lead you into deep reflection, give you a fresh sense of awe and wonder before God, and help you go forward in love as willing servants of God and everyone around you. A timeless collection of wisdom from one of our generation's most trusted spiritual leaders, this volume features excerpts from his best-loved books, including The Reason for God, The Prodigal God, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, The Meaning of Marriage, and more. |
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"Wonderful compendium of Tim Keller's writings." — Mongens S. |
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What Is Wrong with the World? |
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| Is Hell for Real or Does Everyone Go To Heaven? |
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The GREAT Morning Revolution Online Bible Study |
The GREAT Morning Revolution Online Bible Study |
Change your entire day by how you start your morning. In The Great Morning Revolution with Tara Beth Leach, you'll go from scattered to spiritually centered—before the day begins. Using the GREAT framework—Gratitude, Reflect, Exalt, Ask, Trust—you'll build a gentle, flexible morning practice to deepen your relationship with God Join The Great Morning Revolution Online Bible Study and get access to six teaching videos and other helpful tools—all FREE when you sign up! |
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