He Shall Reign: Rejoice!
Pastor Kent Landhuis

THEME – Celebrate God’s glory revealed in lowliness.
TEXT – Luke 1:46-55

GRACE #1- God’s shows mercy to the lowly.

• Luke 1:46-49
• “The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.” ~ Job 5:11

GRACE #2 – God shows grace to the lowly.

• Luke 1:50-53
• “For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” ~ Isaiah 57:17

GRACE #3 – God shows up for the lowly–as the lowly.

• Luke 1:54-55
• “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” ~ Zechariah 9:9

 NEXT STEPS

• Delight in your lowliness.
  • Celebrate your low estate and need for God’s help.
  • Celebrate in the low estate of others and refrain from judgement.
• Don’t be a Grinch (or a Scrooge).
  • Celebrate with generosity.
  • Reveal God’s glory in your generosity.
• Attend to the carols we sing.
  • Celebrate God’s glory!
  • Rejoice!

GO DEEPER: For continued reflection:

 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
~ Matthew 18:3-5

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.  ~ 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. ~ James 4:10

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