He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

God can do far more IN and THROUGH us than we could ever imagine! If we trust God and are grounded in His love, we will discover His restoration and healing in our lives and relationships.

God asks us to share his great concern for those who are helpless and lost and to be willing to carry the message of hope to them. He desires our restoration more than anything, whether the people around us like it or not.

The words from Mary's song reflect God's priorities, standing in stark contrast to the way our world thinks. How important it is to realize that God's ways are often not our ways when life seems unfair and does not turn out the way we might have chosen. True greatness is not measured by human success and achievement but by the depth of our sincere humility. 

Simeon's words reflect the universality of God's plan of salvation. God brings light, life, and contentment to all who put their faith in Him through Jesus Christ. God will accept any of us who are willing to turn to Him for help, regardless of our background or situation in life. He is the universal Savior.

The temptations of Jesus can be summarized as Feeding—nourishing yourself with God’s word; Worship—guarding against idolizing earthly desires; Testing God—aligning your requests with His will, seeking His kingdom first.