Proverbs_25

Scripture:  Proverbs 25:21-22  If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the Lord will reward you. Observation:  Proverbs 25-29 were Proverbs of Solomon, though they were transcribed during the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah.  Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz, who had not been faithful to follow God’s commands.  During Hezekiah’s reign, he directed Judah and Israel back to the practices of worship in the temple.  “Hezekiah did all he could to reinstate the pure worship of God. He organized instruction in the laws of the Torah throughout the country, and he restored the daily services of the Holy Temple in all its splendor”(chabad.org). It is apparent he was interested in the people of Judah and Israel acting in a way that would honor God.  He wanted to step away from the worship of idols that had become so commonplace during his father’s reign. Understanding:  When I was in the police academy, I was immersed into a new way of life.  I did many things, like shaving my head, which I would have never done before.  I endured vigorous training and harsh criticism all with the goal of becoming a new person, a special member of society.  It was drilled into my head that I was going to be held to a higher standard of life, and that my life would be scrutinized by others, all because of a profession I chose.  It was all done for good reason, since the social contract in which we live relies on the trust placed in the integrity of those in charge.  Therefore, I had to look and act in a way that was without reproach.  Obviously, not all people who become police officers live up to this standard.  The media lets us know this in no uncertain terms and would have you believe that all of those in authority are corrupt.    When we profess Jesus as Lord, we take on a similar transition.  Though in Christ, we are called to even more exacting standards than a police officer.  Jesus makes this clear when he told his followers to pluck out your eye if it makes you stumble (Matthew 5:29).  The Apostle Paul expounds on this saying of Solomon in Romans 12, where he discusses dedicated service to others.  In Romans, Paul discusses a similar transformation to a police academy, where we are to shun the ways of the world.  Through the renewing of our minds, we can serve others fully with humility.  And we are challenged to treat others with kindness in the face of adversity. Life Application:  Jesus, help me to have patience with others like you are patient with me.  When I find myself frustrated with the world encroaching on my “rights,” help me to remember the life you gave up to save mine.  Help me to imitate your humility and your attitude of grace to others.  And if you call me to be uncomfortable for your cause, help me to accept that with thanksgiving.  
-Tyler Galloway

Luke 2

 

Scripture

Luke 2:49-52 

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Observation 

Jesus’ family was in Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 

Understanding 

Jesus knew his calling. He was so drawn to being near his calling he left his parents, who were anxiously looking for him, to be where he needed to be. 

But his parents didn't understand. Maybe their spiritual eyes were not open yet. 

Jesus was only 12 years old. 

He went to Nazareth with his parents and was obedient to them.

I think Jesus grew in wisdom and stature because of his obedience to those who had been given spiritual authority over him, ultimately God was leading him. 

Application 

I think sometimes its like that for us too. Maybe we know there is something we are supposed to be doing. Maybe we can feel it in our bones. 

Sometimes others around you may not see it. It’s ok. 

We are all growing, some of us more mature than others but we are all still growing. 

Sometimes we need to do what God is asking us to do. We may need to “go back” to the last thing God asked of us. It may not be where you will end up but it’s where you need to be, now. 

In that place there is learning. In that place there is training. For the place you will go, later. 

Ultimately, God is leading you. Follow Him. 

 

 

 

 

Luke 1

Scripture

Luke 1: 76-79

And you, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.

 

Observation

A lot goes down in Luke chapter one. So here’s the nice condensed version:

• The birth of John is predicted, and his father loses his speech because he can’t believe it
• The birth of Jesus is predicted (no one loses their speech or virginity there)
• Mary visits the mother of John, Elizabeth is is far along in her pregnancy
• Mary gets so excited that she sings a song of adoration
• John is born, is almost not named John, but then is (his father, Zechariah gets his speech back)
• Zechariah prophesies over his son, and pretty much gets it all right

 

Understanding

I think it is fair to argue that John has some pretty big shoes to fill. For starters, his parents are pretty well-known in his community so he has to live up to the family name. If that isn’t stressful enough he also has to pave the way for the literal Son of God… no biggie, right? Wrong! If I were John I’m not sure I would know how to cope or deal with the mounting expectation placed on me. But here’s the honest truth: if we are called followers of Christ, we have this same mounting expectation of us.

I know what you’re thinking, “Wait what? I wasn’t born to usher Jesus into the earth. My sole purpose is not to baptize Jesus either…” You may have not been born for those sole purposes, but the moment you gave God the right to tell you what to do, you offered your life as an embodiment of ushering Jesus in. I know that doesn’t make much sense either, let me explain:

My job as a Christ-follower is to bring Jesus to others. I am to usher in the Presence of God wherever I go. There’s no question of whether God is with us, He’s with us the moment that we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. The question is whether or not we’ve created an environment for Him to move in the lives of others. In other words, we are tasked with the same mission that John the Baptist was given when He was born. Daunting, but also an extreme honor to carry.

 

Life Application

So I know I just made all of that sound extremely unattainable and scary, but I promise it isn’t. In order to make room for God to move, we must make time to understand His heart. That means getting familiar with His ways through His word and through prayer. It means actually spending time with people who could use a move of God. It means making yourself available to be used by Him. It means actually knowing Him. A simple start, but it leads to powerful encounters. Let’s be the reason that someone experiences the Presence of God.

-Allison Khan