March 17
Num 26:1-51 | PS 60:1-12 | Prov 11:15 | Luke 2:36-52
I have never personally met Lynne. Yet, periodically she will send me an email letting me know that she is lifting my wife and I up in prayer. I am so thankful to know that she loves us and faithfully intercedes on our behalf to God. There is the world's Who's Who list, and then there is God's list. Many will be thrust into the public light and have public ministries. These men and women are called to do what they do. But so many faithfully go about God's business in the shadows and below visibility from most of us. They may go unnoticed. But God notices. Pastors and Missionaries would not be able to do what they do if not for the prayers and support of so many who work behind the scenes. I apologize for not remembering the story more specifically, but there is the story of a woman who studied the Chinese language and worked her whole young adult life to become a missionary to China. Due to physical limitations this dream never took place. So she instead committed her life's work to sending the bulk of what she earned to support and send other missionaries in her place. I don't recall her name, or if it was even mentioned when I heard it, but God knows her name. Our service is to glorify God in whatever way He leads us to. So, to all of you who might feel that no one notices, God does. So, keep praying, keep giving, keep pouring into children and others, keep ushering, keep greeting, keep leading worship, etc. Never get tired of serving a God who is worthy of all of our praise and deserves all the glory.
We read in Luke 2:36-38, "Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 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. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem." Anna got to see the baby, Jesus, when Mary came in with Him to the temple according to the law concerning her purification after childbirth. Though the names of the High Priests and the prominent Rabbis were familiar to the crowds, Anna was faithful, most likely unrecognized by many, but God took notice. We then come to the only account of Jesus' life between His birth and His public ministry which began at around the age of thirty. We read in 2:41, "His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast." When they left, they didn't realize that Jesus was still in Jerusalem three days later. We then read in 2:46-47, "Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers." He then went home to Nazareth, as we read in 2:52, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Jesus was one of the neighborhood kids. He apprenticed with His father. Yet those who heard Him in the temple at twelve, and those accustomed to Him in Nazareth failed to recognize Who it was that was in their midst. At this time He was below the radar to all who knew Him, but not to the Father.
The most important thing is to make that step of repenting of your sins and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, thereby embarking on the most important relationship that there is. Once in this relationship we need to abide in His Word and pray. As our walk begins, we must remember it is always for His glory, not our own. It is to help others take notice of Him, for only He has the power to save. What form this takes, He can and should decide. Your ministry might be private, or it may be public. No one else might take notice, or many might take notice. We must do our best to not fall into the trappings of the world. The world seeks to glorify self. Never get dismayed if it seems that the world is passing you by and no one seems to notice, for one day, if your eyes remain on Him, and your life was spent in service to Him, you will hear these words, from Matthew 25:21, "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’" Oh, what joy is set before God's children. Serve tirelessly, He notices.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: