Our confession of faith in Jesus’ resurrection is how we are saved from death in our sins into eternal life in the presence of God. But if our profession of faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is genuine, His Spirit dwelling in us will bring about a change in us. He will draw us into sacrificial service for others – making our faith alive through the works we do by His power in obedience to His call.

sustaining grace, God will always provide for our needs and give us the strength we need to sustain us through times of hardship. Jesus Himself confirmed this truth in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34). Yet we must be careful to note that God never promised that we would not encounter troubles in this life, but that by His infinite grace He will always sustain us through them.

When we take the time to consider Mary’s background, and the manner with which she managed the big assignment from God, we learn some things about her character and can use these lessons to help us grow in our relationship with God.

As Christ followers we must honestly examine our motivations for our service to the Gospel. If we find we are not following the Lord for the right reasons, we must confess this sin before God, and seek His strength and guidance to bring us back into truly godly fellowship.