What a Father We Have!

Mark 1:1 - The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

". . . about Jesus Christ . . ."

"Jesus" is the Greek translation. The same name in Hebrew would be Joshua, which means "Yahweh is salvation." Similarly, the Hebrew word for "Christ" would be Messiah, which means "the Anointed One."  This word described the long-awaited deliverer anticipated in the Jewish world, who would fulfill all of the Old Testament Prophesies.

". . . the Son of God."

Jesus was called the Son of God! This points to God's special relationship with Jesus. He is not just a man, he is God's one and only Son! He is fully divine. He is God Himself, God in the flesh!

Jesus is not above God, but he is the Son of God, showing that he is in submission to His Father. This relationship of dependence and submission is an inspiration and a model that we all strive to imitate.

Even as disciples, we can sometimes think that submission is for young Christians, and that some day when we are "grown up we will no longer have to submit. Jesus, about 30 years old, and being God in the flesh, decided that the best role for him while on earth was that of a Son. He chose a life of complete submission and dependence on His Father!

Where do you struggle to submit to God? As a young Christian, were you more submissive to God than you are now? Maturity doesn't mean less submission to God, but more! Young Christians submit to God, often because of encouragement from older Christians.  Being mature may mean you don't need as many reminders, but we still need to submit to our Father.

Are you mature today? I am 18 years old in the Lord, but my years don't prove maturity. My obedience does. Do I submit my will to God's will? Or do I only do what I want, when I want, when I feel like it?

Let's go back to the role that Jesus chose for himself. Let us be His Children! It's the only way to make it into the Kingdom of Heaven!

Pray for Lisbon, Portugal

Welcome to the capital of Portugal, a city with over 2.5 million people! Although we once planted a church in Lisbon, this group is no longer meeting as a congregation.  Please pray that one day we might be able to plant another group of disciples in this great city, and that this group could see all the cities reached in Portugal! Pray that God will reach natives of Portugal in other cities around the world, and that they could one day be united in a team that could return to their homeland!

See you tomorrow . . .