December 17, 2023 | Dave McGinley
Passage: Luke 1:26-35
FOR God – puts God’s mission before God Himself
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end. Isaiah 9:6-7a
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear. Isaiah 11:1-3
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10
WITH God truth: Jesus has come to be with you.
“Missionalism starts slowly and gains a foothold in the leader’s attitude. Before long the mission controls almost everything: time, relationships, health, spiritual depth, ethics, and convictions. In its worst iteration, the end always justifies the means. The family goes, health is sacrificed, integrity is jeopardized; God connection is limited.” -Gordon McDonald
Don’t put God’s mission before being WITH God.