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Imagine if you can…… A young boy, who is searching for his purpose in life. This young boy can make friends easily. But something is always a little bit different. This young man grows up in somewhat isolation. But he has a family that loves him and a lot of relatives that interact with him all the time. As  this young man grows up, he knows that his purpose in life is a little bit different than everybody else’s. He knows that he has a specific purpose to fulfill and this waiting will lead to something greater. This young man grows up and goes.  Several years later, after living in somewhat isolation. He finally understands the purpose of his life. He finally understands the purpose of all of his preparation.  He sees Christ. John the Baptist knew the wait was worth it.

Luke 7: 24-28

24 

When John's messengers had gone, Jesus[f] began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Growing up in a conservative and difficult life was hard for this little girl. So many hard choices that have been handed to this girl, so early in life. She did not have a chance to truly be a child.  She didn’t have safety and compassion and security. She had to make hard decisions at an early age. These decisions and choices put her into different situations which followed in her shadow throughout her life. It wasn’t until she was able to meet Jesus later in her life, that she understood what she had to do. She waited. Her waiting has been shared throughout the ages. She has created a position in our history for her show of gratitude and atonement. For her it was worth the wait. 

Luke 7: 37-38

And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

In Deuteronomy 6 & 7, we are given instructions on how to enter the promised land. But the one thing that we forget is how God had prepared the promised land in advance for the people. There were already houses, vineyards, cisterns, wells, and everything that they needed to survive. Because they waited they were able to take full advantage of all the things that God had prepared for them. They did not have to do too much preparation or hard labor to the land because life for them is prepared for them. In Deuteronomy God is telling us that he has a life prepared for us, and that we just have to have a relationship with him. We have to be in connection with him so that we can take full advantage of what God has for us.

Deuteronomy 6: 10-12

“And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, 11 and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, 12 then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Deuteronomy 7:11-14 

And because you listen to these rules and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers. 13 He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you. 14 You shall be blessed above all peoples.

How many times in our life are we waiting on the next thing? How many times are we waiting on the next thing?  We have to be patient during the wait.  After the wait, we also have to remember the journey that we have gone through to get to our destination.  So many times, we go through obstacles and tests, we forget the lesson.  Let us take the opportunity to slow down and wait for the next thing that God has prepared for us.  Let us also not forget the lessons that we have learned by grace and mercy. 

Be Blessed 

I remember with great anticipation returning to my hometown after being away at college for a few months. The excitement to be with family and friends, wondering if they would see any change or growth in me. I had become more independent while away and been exposed to new ways of thinking, would anyone notice? I felt both apprehension and anticipation on the trek home.

In Luke 4:16-30, Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth. I am sure he experienced some of those same emotions. While he had been away he had been baptized by John and received the Holy spirit. He had also spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. I’m sure he was excited to go back to his home and see his family and friends. He had been ministering in Galilee and everything was going well for him. In Luke 4:15 we read that “He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.” I am sure everyone was eager to see him and hear him preach when he returned home.

On the Sabbath day in his home town of Nazareth, Jesus went to the synagogue to pray. He was handed the scroll of Isaiah, he unrolled it and began to read…

“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
Luke 4:18-19

Jesus was quoting this from Isaiah 61:1-2. After reading the scroll, he rolled it back up and handed it back to the attendant. Then he said,
“The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day.”
Luke 4:21

The crowd listening to Jesus was amazed. They knew him as Joseph’s son and had worked as a carpenter. How could he be saying these things? They questioned what they heard and who he claimed to be. How could this ordinary boy claim those things? The people were skeptical. Instead of easing their doubts, Jesus challenges them. The peoples skepticism and confusion soon turns to anger.

The Nazareth people were offended when Jesus told them that God loves Israel, but He also loves the rest of the world. The people were deeply enraged that God would have mercy on people who they did not like or agree with. It made them furious.

When they heard this, the people in the synagogue where furious. Jumping up, the mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.
Luke 4:28-30

The people were not willing to hear that God wanted to love and save all people. Jesus was there to speak the truth, not just to gain a following. Miraculously, Jesus passes through the crowd and goes on his way.

Jesus did not get the hometown welcome that he initially might have desired. But, more importantly he did not care about the popularity and thoughts that the people had about him. He cared what God thought about him.

Jesus experienced rejection. He knows the feeling. He goes on in His life to experience rejection to the point of death. But He did this so that we may have life. We get to ask for His forgiveness for when we have rejected Him and He forgives us.

 

Today’s reading: Numbers 22-25; Luke 2

I have read Luke chapter 2 many times, which speaks about the birth of Jesus, but today a few verses struck me. Luke 2:25-38 reveal two individuals that were never spoken about again the Bible, Simeon and Anna.

Starting in verse 25, Simeon is described as “this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Verse 26, “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”  The Bible does not provide any detail about Simeon as a rabbi, public official, or a man of specific stature.  He was “just and devout.”  Seemingly, Simeon appears to be an “everyday person.”

Verse 37 tells us about Anna, “and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”  Luke outlines little detail of Anna’s interaction with Christ, but he wrote in verse 38, “and coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke referenced Anna’s interaction with Jesus to verify He was the Son of God.

What speaks to me about today’s reading are two things.

1. 1. God uses normal, “everyday people” for great things.

Perhaps you live your life as a “normal person.”  What great impact are you having in the world?  What can be deemed extraordinary in your life?  You have a family.  You have a home. You live your life attending church and praising God.  Maybe your life may not seem extraordinarily “great” in our earthly eyes, but God does amazing things with His faithful servants.

Perhaps your role is to raise children, nieces and nephews, or influence grandchildren that will bring generations of your family to follow Christ.  Perhaps you volunteer at church or at community organizations and there is one person who you impacted that will go on to bring their family and generations of others to Christ.  Or perhaps a person you impact will go on become a spiritual leader that will have a profound impact on generations of new believers.

Being faithful and consistent is worthy in God’s eyes.  God used “normal people” time and time again in the Bible to change the world.

2.  God rewards and appreciates His faithful servants.

Our reward for consistency and faithfulness will be known in Heaven. Verse after verse tell us this in the Bible.

Colossians 3:23-24 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Romans 2:6 – God will repay each person according to what they have done.

1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves full to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Simeon and Anna were faithful to God as “everyday people,” and God used them to verify the most important person to ever walk the earth, Jesus.  God rewarded Simeon and Anna for their faithfulness, and they will forever be remembered in the Bible recorded in Luke’s account.

No matter what your status or place in life, you can have a profound impact in the eyes of our Lord.  Choose to be consistent, faithful, and good and as God notes, in your doings each and every day.  Know that your consistency, diligence, and labor towards a life of faith does not go unnoticed in the eyes of our Lord.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Today’s reading:  Numbers 19-21, Colossians 4

In my Life Application Study Bible, the heading for Numbers 20 is A New Generation. By this point, it had been 40 years since the Exodus from Egypt.  While all the people who lived in Egyptian captivity had almost died off, it doesn’t seem like much had changed.  The next generation was still grumbling and blaming Moses, their leader, for everything they didn’t like. In this specific instance, they were frustrated because there was no water in the Desert of Zin where they were camping.

They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” (Numbers 20:3-5).

When I look at the context, I understand the stress.  This distance from Egypt to Canaan, “The Promised Land”, was only 40 miles.  It shouldn’t take that long to walk there, even if you are walking with 600,000 other people.  However, God’s people had been wandering the desert for 37 of the last 40 years, making no real progress toward their destination, and grumbling the entire way.  I’m sure Moses was frustrated with the people he was leading and frustrated with God.  On top of that, notice that Numbers chapter 20 starts off by telling us Miriam, Moses’ wife, had died.  In spite of his immense sadness and stress, Moses continued to carry out his responsibilities as leader and chief problem solver by seeking God’s answer to their water problem.

The Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink” (Numbers 20:8).

Like he had done time and time again over the last 40 years, God performed a miracle through Moses and took care of his people’s needs.

So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them” (Numbers 20:9-12).

Look closely.  This time the end result was different.  God was displeased with Moses and told him that, despite his job of leading God’s people to The Promised Land, he was not going to get to enter with them.  Why?  Because this time Moses took credit for the miracle instead of giving credit to God.

I’m not sure about you, but in spite of the circumstances, this punishment seems pretty harsh to me.  Moses had been leading God’s people, solving their problems and listening to them complain for 40 years.  During a time of immense stress and sadness, Moses makes a mistake and God has no mercy?  What gives?

Two things to remember.  1) God is a God of justice and mercy.   Choices that are against God’s plan have consequences.  While God is willing to offer forgiveness, he does not always protect us from the consequences of our actions.  That is how we learn.  2) God holds leaders to a higher standard because of the influence they have on other people.

Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless— (Titus 1:7).