Luke 2 - 04.04.2024

SCRIPTURE-Luke 2:34-35 NIV

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

OBSERVATION

Mary is the subject of much controversy within various faiths. Some religions bow down and worship her, which the Bible tells us IS Idol worship. God, alone, deserves our Praise and Worship.

That said, there are some valuable lessons to learn from Mary and she is on my heart today as I read through these first two chapters of Luke.

Taking a step back to Luke chapter one, Mary is a teenager betrothed to Joseph when an Angel of God is sent to give her the news that God has chosen her to be the mother of the Promised Messiah. Knowing she has had no intimate knowledge of a man, she asks the Angel how this is possible. The angel replies that “The Holy Spirit will come on you”.

Mary stuns me. Her reply is swift and simple. “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said” (1:38)

Mary risked everything to be the Lord’s servant. Not only did she risk her reputation, Joseph, and her family—people would think she was crazy if she shared the story about becoming pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

And…Had Joseph chosen to accuse her of adultery she would have been stoned to death.

Still…despite these many risks…Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as You have said”.

APPLICATION

A Faith that doesn’t say I am “Willing”—But…MAY it BE

Simeon gave a word to Mary that this honor was going to come at a high price. Following Jesus comes at a Cost. Jesus shared about the cost of discipleship.

“And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

But don’t begin until you count the cost.” (Luke 14: 27-28a NLT)

Our commitment to Jesus will require us to move from comfort to courage. We will doubt our calling, we will at times think we’re crazy, we’ll want to look for the ‘easy’ way out. We will question ourselves and others may question us.

But Courageous Faith that says to God, May it BE, will bring us to our knees and draw us closer to God than we ever imagined possible.

PRAYER

LORD Jesus,

May it Be to me as You say. I want to be where You are. I am your servant. There are times when it feels terrifying, but I know, like David, I can share those feelings with you and declare how every single time YOU have been My Father, My Provider, My ever-present Help in times of need. Help me Lord to remember and declare Your Faithfulness! When I am tempted and weary, Thank You that Your Word is Life and Light and Strength that girds me. You are WITH me. Here I am Lord, Send me. In Jesus Name. amen.

 Tina Lisabeth Kudelka

Luke 1 - 4.3.24

Scripture

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord. (Luke 1:45, NKJV)

Observation

The context of this verse is a conversation between Elizabeth and Mary, who are relatives. Mary has heard from an angel that she being a virgin would conceive supernaturally and will bear the Son of God. Such a thing has never happened before in history. But Mary believed God’s promise to her, and submitted herself to God’s will (verse 38), not caring about the scandal that this would cause, or the impact that it could have on her future marriage with Joseph. Elizabeth, who has been childess all her life had conceived miraculously, and was in her advanced months of pregnancy at the time of Mary’s visit. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit prophetically told Mary that she was blessed because she believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her (Luke 1:45, NIV).

Application

The Christian walk is based on faith. We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). What is faith? Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1). The key to answered prayer is faith. Jesus said that whatever we ask for in prayer, if we believe that we have received it, then it will be ours (Mark 11:24). Are we able to believe God, and take him at his Word? Like Mary, do we believe that His promises to us will never fail? If we do not believe his Word, then we are "limiting" God's work in our life. The Bible says that the children of Israel limited God (Psalms 78:41). God could not do what He wanted to do for them, because they did not believe. The Bible says that if we do not have faith, we should not expect to receive anything from God (James 1:7). Without faith, we are like waves on the beach, coming on to the shore in full force, and going back just as they came, not reaching anywhere (James 1:6). How do we increase our faith? Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17, KJV). We increase our faith by feeding on God's word, and hearing God's word regularly. 

Prayer

Father, I thank you for the measure of faith that you have given me (Romans:12:3). Help me to be like Mary, and believe that there will be a fulfilment of those things that you have promised me. Lord increase my faith (Luke 17:5). Help me to build myself up on the most holy faith that you have given me, praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20, KJV). May my life be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

Philemon 1 - 4.2.24

SCRIPTURE:  Philemon 1;4-7  "I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.  I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.  For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother."

OBSERVATION:  Paul wrote to Philemon, and to the church who met in his house.  Philemon was a wealthy church leader in Colossae.  He had a slave named Onesimus who had escaped, and who Paul had met in Rome while he was in prison.  Paul led Onesimus to the Lord.  As reluctant as he was to send him back, Paul knew the right thing to do was to return Onesimus back to Philemon's household, but he also realized that severe punishment would be awaiting him, which led to Paul writing this letter. 

Philemon had been wronged by Onesimus big time because he had broken the law, rebelled against him, and had run away from his master's house, and Philemon's finances had been negatively affected by his absence.  Paul confronted the sensitive issue as he wrote this letter.  He made an appeal out of love for Onesimus explaining that he was once useless to Philemon, but since Paul had led him to the Lord, and had fathered him, he was now a new man, and useful to both of them.  Aware of the bad consequences that would be awaiting Onesimus upon his return, Paul pleaded with Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a brother.  Paul explained that he was willing to pay ALL the debt that Onesimus had owed in exchange for welcoming him back as a brother in Christ.

APPLICATION:  Many of us have been wronged by someone, so we are able to identify with the feelings of anger that Philemon felt towards Onesimus, but what I noticed about Paul was that he interceded, and made the problem HIS OWN!  He was willing to take the punishment that Onesimus deserved, and pay the debt off in full!  Does that sound like someone else you know?  Jesus was willing to take the punishment that we deserved!  Our sins deserved the punishment of death, but Jesus was willing to pay our debt in full by dying on the cross.  He did it so we could be restored back to the Father as brothers and sisters in Christ. 

When we are born-again, God forgives ALL our past, present, and future sins!  And as hard as that may be for some of us to comprehend that kind of love, it is not only true, but we are to be imitators of that kind of love towards the ones who have wronged us.  Whether they've asked for forgiveness OR NOT! 

We aren't told how Philemon responded to Paul's approach, but knowing that Philemon was known as a dear friend and co-worker, a fellow soldier, and one who led the church in his home, we can speculate that Onesimus was forgiven, and that he had been received back as a brother in Christ.

PRAYER:  I pray that my life will be like Paul's because he brought great joy and encouragement by serving the needs of others, and he brought such pleasure to Jesus!  And, I pray that I will be faithful in demonstrating Christ-like love, even to the ones who have wronged me.     

- Robin Orefice