Becky Austin

A Mother’s Memories (Luke 2)

10:00 AM



In Luke 2, we are given several incidents that left an impression upon Mary, the mother of Jesus. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to be the chosen mother of the Savior of the world. I imagine she saw him as just an ordinary child most of the time. But then there were those special times when she would have been reminded that he was destined for so much more than her heart could fathom. 


The Shepherds: Mary has just given birth in a town that was unknown to her, and in a lowly stable at that. Imagine her surprise when shepherds from that region, who would have been strangers, come to see her newborn child and tell her what God proclaimed to them about her son. “And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke‬ ‭2:10-11‬.


Simeon and Anna: When they took Jesus to present him at the Temple, both Simeon and Anna recognized Mary’s child as the prophesied Savior. Simeon proclaimed “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."”  Luke‬ ‭2:29-32‬

Simeon blessed their child but he specifically warned Mary that as a mother she would also have to endure a mother’s heartache for her child would shake up the order of things and not all would be accepting of him. 

Anna also gave thanks to God on behalf of Mary’s child and began to spread news of him. 


Mary watched her baby boy grow into a young lad of 12. At the Feast of the Passover, her mother’s heart became very distressed when he couldn’t be found and she worried about what might have happened to him. But Jesus, full of wisdom and knowledge that he had a purpose on this earth, reminded her that ultimately he could be entrusted into the care of his Heavenly Father. “And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"” Luke‬ ‭2:49‬ ‭


It can be a hard thing to trust God’s plans for our loved ones. Naturally we want to protect them from hardship, trials and pain. I’m sure Mary was no different but she was also wise enough to recognize that she had to trust God and His ultimate plan. Thats’s why Luke 2  tells us , “and his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.” Luke‬ ‭2:51‬

 ‭I imagine she drew strength from these memories when she had to witness her son’s brutal death. We too have to trust God’s Word to us and trust the details of our lives and the lives of our loved ones to Him. We may not understand all of the whys in this life but we can trust that God can make something beautiful out of every heartache. He always has a higher purpose and a plan of salvation for us all. 

Anna

A Life Well Spent - Anna's Legacy {Luke 2:36-38}

7:30 AM

 Luke 2


Someone once said that on every tomb stone there is found a dash between the date of birth and date of death, which begs the question, what will you do with your dash? Or more explicitly, what will your legacy be? Anna is only afforded three verses in the entire Bible, but there is a lot of information packed into them. Notice,

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

We’re told that she only lived with her husband for seven years. If she married at the usual age of other girls back then, that would have placed her in early twenties when her husband died and young enough to remarry and still have a family, but Anna preferred to remain in the temple to worship, pray and fast for some sixty years!  Imagine that! I wonder how many other women back then, or even now, would consider this to be a life well spent.

But there is a lot I’ve learned from Anna:

1.      Anna's focus was on her God not her circumstances.

How long have you stuck with something in spite of little to no support? Women were not permitted into the inner courts of the temple. Their primary duty was to marry and raise children. She went against the culture of the day to remain in the temple.  I don’t think I would have been so inclined to persevere, but think of how many people Anna was able to share her faith with, pray for and support over those sixty years. I believe she could remain there because her eyes were fixed on God and not her circumstances:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12:1-3

2. Anna’s life was one of obedience.
Anna obeyed God. She surrendered her will to God and did what God told her to do. How about you? Has God told you to do something but you've been hesitant? How quick are you to obey when God gives you a directive knowing the blessings of being obedient far outweigh the blessings of getting your way?

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. – 1 Peter 4:10-11

3. Anna’s life demonstrates that with God all things are possible.
Even in the toughest of times (Anna being widowed at such a young age) God is with us. Anna assures us that we can be used by God no matter who we are, or what situation we find ourselves in.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; Your love, O LORD, endures forever – do not abandon the works of Your hands.
-Psalm 138:7-9

4. God provided for Anna.
How was Anna able to provide for herself residing in the temple night and day? The answer is, she didn’t, God did.  Being a widow, Anna, had to rely on others to feed and clothe her. The Lord provided for her and He will provide for us too!

My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped. I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.
–Psalm 17:5-6

5. Anna was courageous and committed.
I don’t think I need to go into the kind of courage and commitment it would take for anyone to remain in God’s house night and day ministering to others and telling others about the coming Savior. I thought of Joshua 1:9 for courage,

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, [push past your fears to reach your goals] for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

And Romans 5;3-5 for commitment:

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

6. Anna understood what patience meant.
She waited for Christ to come despite the many years that had past. This one truly hits me right at my core, for patience has never been one of my best virtues. I am not sure I could have waited that long, but Anna could wait because of all the reasons I stated above. She knew God, she was completely surrendered and committed to Him, and she knew more so than anyone perhaps, that with God all things are possible.

I believe Anna could have penned these words herself:

We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light. - Col 1:11-12

Blessings, 

sue

 


Anna

Our Study on Anna

10:00 AM

 


This Week's Memory Verse is Luke 2:37b
 
She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Hi Girls!

We're already onto week three of our study! I hope you've been enjoying the study on the women of the New Testament so far. This week Anna is found in just a few verse in the Book of Luke, but there is a lot here as you will soon see this week!

Anna's story is found in Luke 2:22-38 or more specifically verse 36-38 

Remember each week we're looking for:

  • Monday: Her story--a portrait of her life
  • Tuesday: Her life and times--background information about the culture of her day
  • Wednesday: Her legacy in Scripture--a short Bible study on her life with application to your own
  • Thursday: Her promise--the Bible promises that apply to her life and yours
  • Friday: Her legacy of prayer--and praying in light of her story

We want to also encourage you to be thinking along these lines as you study each woman throughout the week. Ask yourself:


  • What life lessons stand out to me from Anna's life?
  • How does the culture of that day have an impact on her circumstances?
  • What is Anna's legacy ?
  • What's the greatest takeaway/promise from her story?
  • How does her story prompt you in the area of prayer?
All for now! 
I hope you are just as excited as we are to begin this week's study on the life of Anna! 

We'll see you in the morning! 

Blessings!
sue

 

Lisa Thayer

Looking in All The Wrong Places {Luke 2}

3:00 PM


Scripture for Tuesday, January 7    Luke 2:41-52

Although we are still celebrating the Christmas Season, it was extremely difficult for me to not discuss the birth of Christ.  Instead, I am using the last section of this chapter to open this year’s study of Walking in Wisdom.

Sue asked us to share a word or phrase that we want to focus on for the New Year, and I shared that mine is TRUTH.  A few years ago, I was in the middle of a discussion with someone I looked up to and valued their opinion and something they said really rattled me.  I was looking for answers.  I was at a crossroads and wanted to participate in a bible study.  So much was going on in my life – my seriously injured husband, trying to blend six kids from two marriages, ages 12-19, either in college, high school or middle school.  My friends and family seemed to all be trying to navigate through life and some weren’t doing so well. 

My friend, who I consider a natural born leader said something that caused me to question his salvation.  He appreciated my concern, but we were divided.  Who was right?  I needed answers.  It had been years since I had participated in a bible study.  But my family and friends could not help me with finding the answers to my questions.  The books I was reading, were not helping.  I needed the truth.  Somehow, I stumbled onto Women in the Word and I’ve been learning ever since.

In today’s passage, Mary asks Jesus why He treated she and Joseph this way and they were searching anxiously for Him (v. 48), it’s Jesus’ response that sums up my seeking.  “Why were you searching – didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house.”  (v. 50)

The bible does not change – scripture does not change – it changes us.  The more we read and study the bible and pray over our readings, the more God reveals to us.  It’s absolutely amazing.  And there will often be times that those around you will be less knowledgeable, but you have to live and/or work under their authority.  Perhaps it’s your boss, or your spouse, or like in Jesus’ example, your earthly parents.  Mary and Joseph did not understand that Jesus was doing the will of His heavenly Father.

This is the only biblical recorded incident of the youthful years of Christ, and it’s most likely that Luke got this story from Mary.  Luke was incredibly good at research and he used eyewitnesses to write his gospel (v. 1:2). 
 
But why are they searching for Jesus at all?  To a lot of people, it appears this 12 year old boy has treated his parents poorly.  Jesus sums it up here in verses 48-50:  And when they (his parents) saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so?  Behold your father and I have been looking for you anxiously (literally: in pain).”  And he said to them:  “Why is it that you sought me?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house (or about his business).”  And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.

This last statement – that they did not understand Jesus – is Luke’s way of saying to us “There’s more here than meets the eye.”  Where did they search?  In the playground, at the local swimming hole, in the shops, at the bakery?  Jesus answers:  You shouldn’t have had to seek at all.  For you know, don’t you, that there is laid on me an inner necessity to be in my Father’s house (or about his business – depending on your translation)?

It seems the main point of the whole passage probably lies in the contrast between “your father” and “my father”.  Mary says, your father and I have been searching for you.”  Jesus answers, “You should have known I would be at the house of my Father.”  In other words, Jesus has chosen this crucial stage of his life, on the brink of manhood, to tell his parents in an unforgettable way that he now knows who his real Father is and what it will mean for his mission.  It will mean, as Simeon said in Luke 2:35, “a sword will pierce through your own soul also, Mary,”  The time will come when Jesus will be killed at Jerusalem, and after three days rise from the dead, and that will be a great pain for Mary.  And is not this three-day vigil of Mary and Joseph a foreshadowing of that experience?  She said, “Your father and I have been seeking you in pain.”

So it seems to me that the main teaching of the passage is that Jesus now recognizes his unique sonship to God, and that his mission will require of him a devotion to God’s purposes so great that it takes precedence over the closest family ties.  He must follow his calling, even if it brings pain and misunderstanding.  In this way Luke sets the stage for the adult ministry of the Son of God. 

I am beginning what should be the last year of my present job.  This is the beginning of my 30th year of work at this job.  I can retire!  My purpose is changing and I have had so many people give me ideas of what I should or could do in my retirement.  My children are no longer of the age that they need me to keep track of them and I now have an opportunity to switch gears.  This is a crucial stage of my life and so I am seeking the truth.  What is my mission?  What is my purpose?  This year will truly be a year of Walking in Wisdom for me.

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