Today you should read: Luke 1:26-38
Thank you for making a commitment to start this NEW YEAR off right by reading God’s Word each day. Thanks for choosing Jumpstart. As your pastor, I’m proud of you and encouraged by your decision.
Luke, as you know is one of the Gospel accounts of the life of Jesus. Luke, a physician, writes the narrative from a details perspective giving attention to each fact. He interviewed the eye-witnesses carefully and put together this account for us. Reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) give us so much insight to the life of Jesus and teach us many valuable lessons to apply to our own lives.
The book of Luke begins with story of Jesus birth – the beginning of the narrative. We read yesterday about Mary’s cousin Elizabeth – and the miracle of her pregnancy with John the Baptist. Today we read the account of the angel appearing to Mary and giving her the news about Jesus birth. This is very familiar – but there are some AWESOME truths we can learn.
God uses ordinary people like you and I. Mary is a simple girl – minding her own business. She’s engaged to a local boy – planning a wedding as she goes about her life fulfilling her duties at home. God chose her to be the mother of the Savior. Don’t ever feel like God can’t use you simply because you don’t feel talented enough. God takes us as we are and prepares us for what He calls us to do.
God blesses obedience and a pure heart. You have found favor with God… ever wonder why? We don’t have all of the details recorded, but what we know is that God blesses our obedience to His Word. Mary obeyed God in every way her teenage heart knew how. She was pure from the inside out. What about you? Are you obeying what God has told you to do and avoiding what He told you to avoid? Is your heart pure? Is there anything you to confess and repent of for God to be able to fully use you?
We don’t have to fully understand to fully obey – it’s about our heart. Mary is confused and disturbed (v.29). She doesn’t fully understand what she’s been told. It must have been terribly overwhelming for her. She obeyed God anyway.
I am the Lord’s servant. (v.38)
How often do we expect God to reveal every detail of what He’s asking of us so that we can decide IF we want to obey Him? How prideful is that? God expects us to take Him at His word and obey Him the first time He asks. You don’t have to fully understand to fully obey. It’s a matter of your heart…
The Word of God will never fail (v.37) What a promise! What God says He will do. God spoken and written Word has never failed and it never will. You and I can trust in that.
My prayer for you today, is that you will hear God’s voice, obey Him in faith, and experience His true blessings in your life.
By: Tim Parsons — Lead Pastor
JumpstartCPC.com 
Thank you pastor Tim! I am also encouraged by all the people I hear talking about starting their day in God’s Word with Jumpstart. Thanks to all of our staff who have been writing commentaries each day for 6 or 7 years (?) (can’t remember how long)
I know everyone is busy in the mornings getting kids ready for school, preparing lunches, packing backpacks, etc. but comments by readers are also inspiring. It’s so interesting to see how scripture speaks into our lives in unique ways depending on where we are in life at a given point in time! I’m excited about 2018 and look forward to this journey through God’s word with you.
Thanks Mike. God had used this tool powerfully in lives of many people. I am praying He does even more with this new initiative. …and I’m praying for you.