Fourth Week in Advent: Tuesday

Old Testament Lesson

1 Samuel 2: 1-10

This is Hannah’s prayer after she dedicates Samuel in the Temple. She was barren for many years, and then the Lord promised her a child, a child that she willingly gave back to Him, a child that would go on to become one of the greatest prophets in Israel’s history, a child that would anoint David as king one day. This is her song of praise.

One passages stands out to me, “the bows of the warriors are broken; those that stumble are armed with strength.” We don’t think about strength coming from stumbling. We would think it would be those that have strong bows have strength. Hannah sings, that in the weakness of falling, we can find God’s strength. After all, she was weak and barren, and the Lord gave her a child. It isn’t until we are weak enough to admit that we need His help that we can find his strength. It isn’t until we know that we can’t turn anywhere else but to Him that we can find Him. Out strength comes not from who we are, but rather our strength comes from who He is, and if we will humble ourselves, we will find that He will arm us with His strength.

New Testament Lesson

Titus 2: 1-10

This is a passage about what to teach different groups in the church, older men, younger men, older women, and slaves. And in this teaching, two things are found for each group: self control and the understanding that all they do reflects upon the gospel. Crete was an island where there was no self control. People did as they pleased. The Christian must live a life that is a different, a life that is not controlled by the flesh or by human desires, but a life that is controlled by the Holy Spirit. It is not that we should not enjoy life, but we are to understand that our true joy comes from God, and then when God is our true joy, all the joys of life are that much sweeter. But, if we think we can find ultimate joy in our human desires, we will be like the dog chasing its tail, living out of control, hopelessly chasing joy we cannot find. But, in Jesus Christ, we find the joy that we seek. And we should live lives that above all glorify him and draw all people unto Him. If we live lives of joyful obedience to Him, that will attract a world that is chasing pleasure, but coming up empty. His gospel and the proclamation of it through our lives should always be our primary concern.

Gospel Lesson

Luke 1: 26-38

This is passage where Mary tells the angel that she will follow the plan of God and give birth to Jesus. Today, I noticed what the angel said to her to reassure her, through. He said that the power of the Most High will overshadow you. What greater assurance is there in our lives than the fact that Most High will overshadow us? If the Lord has called you to something, He will overshadow you. We may be tempted to think that we are all alone in our missions and in our lives, but in this text, we see it is not so. We see that the Most High will overshadow us, and we see in Mary’s visit to Elizabeth that there are always others that are with us in our journey. There are others that know what we are going through. We are not by ourselves. That is why our church should be important to our lives; in moments where we are tempted feel alone, we can be reminded that we have brothers and sisters walking with us. We do not walk this path of faith alone. There are brothers and sisters that are walking with us. Never think that are you all alone in your faith. Know that the Most High is with you, and know that the Body of Christ is with you as well.