The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesian church from house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:16). He reminded them that God’s power in and through them was so amazing, nothing should stop them living for God. In view of this power, Paul urged (Gr.parakaleō, ‘to strongly encourage, beg’) the believers to view their lives as a walk (Gr. peripatesai, ‘to tread all around’) that has a direction. Everyone can walk, but not all people stay on the right path (Ps. 1:1-6)!A believer’s ‘walking’ should show choices that demonstrate worthiness (Gr. axiōs, ‘appropriateness, suitability’) to carry the name ‘Christian’. Paul exemplified the fact that even during difficulty, every Christian can honor God. People’s choices demonstrate who or what has the highest worth in their life. 

Paul told the Ephesian Christians that when people put their faith in Jesus, he takes up residence in their heart (Eph. 3:17). This indwelling of God leads people to make different choices than they would have made previously and accept godly counsel they would have rejected before. A new life leads to a new way of living (Prov. 28:26)! In finding new life with God, believers experience His love that surpasses human knowledge. The best ‘love life’ comes from the love living in your heart!From God’s presence in a believer’s life comes His ability to do far more abundantly (Gr. huper ek perissos, ‘beyond limits, infinitely’) than anything humans could imagine. Like always being able to add a number to the largest number or drawing a bigger circle, whatever the limits of human ability, God is still greater. The greatest Strength comes from within!

Paul told the Ephesian Christians that when people put their faith in Jesus, he takes up residence in their heart (Eph. 3:17). This indwelling of God leads people to make different choices than they would have made previously and accept godly counsel they would have rejected before. A new life leads to a new way of living (Prov. 28:26)! In finding new life with God, believers experience His love that surpasses human knowledge. The best ‘love life’ comes from the love living in your heart!From God’s presence in a believer’s life comes His ability to do far more abundantly (Gr. huper ek perissos, ‘beyond limits, infinitely’) than anything humans could imagine. Like always being able to add a number to the largest number or drawing a bigger circle, whatever the limits of human ability, God is still greater. The greatest Strength comes from within!

1 John 4:8 shows us God is love. We know Jesus is God by verses like John 10:30 in which Jesus reveals, “I and the father are one”, and this means Jesus is love. By knowing Jesus to inherently be love, we can better come to understand what love is and who God is by observing the life of Jesus through God’s definition of love as given in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

1 John 4:8 shows us God is love. We know Jesus is God by verses like John 10:30 in which Jesus reveals, “I and the father are one”, and this means Jesus is love. By knowing Jesus to inherently be love, we can better come to understand what love is and who God is by observing the life of Jesus through God’s definition of love as given in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

Mary was young, poor and probably not especially attractive. She lived in the rural area of Nazareth and came from a family with no great social influence. Like most young women of her time, she would have been happy to marry a man she loved and please God by being a godly wife and mother. Greatness doesn’t have to come out of great surroundings. Mary was probably a teenager when she met Joseph. In Jewish marital customs, after meeting him and spending time together, Mary would then make her feelings about Joseph known to her father and he would present Joseph or his father with the marriage agreement. Just as with Joseph, Mary agreed to sexual abstinence and purity as part of the contract. A person’s view of sex is an expression of their view of God(1 Pet. 4:3-5). As a believing woman, her desire was to honor God and her future husband by preparing herself for marriage. This would involve learning domestic skills to run a home and preparation for becoming a wife and mother. Mary was an ordinary woman in an ordinary town with ordinary looks expecting an ordinary future. God can take the plain and make it beautiful and use the ordinary to do the extraordinary!

Mary was young, poor and probably not especially attractive. She lived in the rural area of Nazareth and came from a family with no great social influence. Like most young women of her time, she would have been happy to marry a man she loved and please God by being a godly wife and mother. Greatness doesn’t have to come out of great surroundings. Mary was probably a teenager when she met Joseph. In Jewish marital customs, after meeting him and spending time together, Mary would then make her feelings about Joseph known to her father and he would present Joseph or his father with the marriage agreement. Just as with Joseph, Mary agreed to sexual abstinence and purity as part of the contract. A person’s view of sex is an expression of their view of God(1 Pet. 4:3-5). As a believing woman, her desire was to honor God and her future husband by preparing herself for marriage. This would involve learning domestic skills to run a home and preparation for becoming a wife and mother. Mary was an ordinary woman in an ordinary town with ordinary looks expecting an ordinary future. God can take the plain and make it beautiful and use the ordinary to do the extraordinary!

Anna probably married as a young woman, then after seven years her husband died. When she met infant Jesus she was 84 years old. She was likely widowed for over 60 years and didn’t remarry or have children which allowed her to continually pray and fast at the Temple. A person’s priorities pave their path (Prov. 3:5, 6). Anna didn’t let disappointments, setbacks, or loneliness ruin her desire to serve God. She wouldn’t have chosen many of the things that had happened to her, but in God’s sovereignty He allowed them. Despite heartache and problems, she trusted and honored God through it all.Anna made a conscious effort seek the Lord daily and made a habit out of putting God and His will first (Matt. 6:33). People become what they believe and personify what they practice.

Anna probably married as a young woman, then after seven years her husband died. When she met infant Jesus she was 84 years old. She was likely widowed for over 60 years and didn’t remarry or have children which allowed her to continually pray and fast at the Temple. A person’s priorities pave their path (Prov. 3:5, 6). Anna didn’t let disappointments, setbacks, or loneliness ruin her desire to serve God. She wouldn’t have chosen many of the things that had happened to her, but in God’s sovereignty He allowed them. Despite heartache and problems, she trusted and honored God through it all.Anna made a conscious effort seek the Lord daily and made a habit out of putting God and His will first (Matt. 6:33). People become what they believe and personify what they practice.

In the Law, every firstborn male belonged to God as he was the ‘strength’ of the herd or family (Ex. 13:2). As Israelites that loved God, Joseph and Mary came from Nazareth to Jerusalem to redeem Jesus from service to the Lord at the Temple forty-one days after his birth. Because they were poor, instead of a lamb, Mary gave two turtledoves—one for her purification and one for her sin offering as she recognized her need for a Savior (Lev. 12:3-6; Luke 1:47). Finances have nothing to do with being faithful (Hab. 3:17-19)! This was the first of many trips that Jesus would make to the Temple. Even God-in-the-flesh was shown the importance of honoring his heavenly Father by his earthly father. Joseph set an example for his family by following God’s laws and leading his family in worship to God (Deut. 6:6-9). Families often follow the priorities of the father!