Day 13 Wednesday March 3, 2010

Day 13 Wed March 3, 2010

TODAY’S INTRO
There are several great stories here today. The sower asks us “what kind of soil are we at this moment in time?” It also reminds me of the importance of being faithful in sharing the faith and leaving the results/impact to God. The sower consistently goes out and sows- over and over. Writing devotions in some ways is trying to honor the call to “sow”. I also love the story of how Jesus brings “calm in the midst of storms”. How many of you need to hear God’s voice in the midst of the storms of life- whether it’s because of illness, stress, anxiety, uncertainty, or for some other reasons? (You might listen to the song- Praise You in the Storm by Casting Crowns, Link at bottom)
It’s easy to jump to talk about those important aspects of today’s text. It’s important to ponder them but let’s not forget the first 3 verses today, which we might just plow by if not gently nudged. So, read it all but. . …don’t forget the first 3!

TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 8:1-25
8 Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for thema out of their resources.
4 When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 5"A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. 7Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold." As he said this, he called out, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"
9 Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10He said, "To you it has been given to know the secretsb of the kingdom of God; but to others I speakc in parables, so that 'looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.'
11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. 14As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.
16 "No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. 18Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away."
19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." 21But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."
22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they put out, 23and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. 24They went to him and woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. 25He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?"

TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES
Luke 8:1-3 does not appear in the Mark, Matthew, or John. Although women are noted at the resurrection appearances (including these 3), Luke makes it chrystal clear that “women were part of his disciples” early on. They appear to accompany him from this moment all the way to Jerusalem. Some of these women could have been some of the 70 sent out in pairs to minister in the towns (in chapter 10) They will hear his great teaching on the way to Jerusalem (stories like the Good Samaritan, Lazarus and Dives, the Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coins, and Son), and they will experience the events we call “Holy Week”. Of all the followers, these 3 appear to be the ones who will “hang in the longest”. They hang out at the cross when others have left (or not even showed up) and they show up at the tomb early on a Sunday morning to be surprised beyond belief that the stone guarding Jesus’ tomb had been rolled away. But. ..I’m getting ahead of myself.

In a male dominated culture (as the first century was), when females had little rights, Jesus breaks the boundaries and says that women will be part of his leadership team. Why didn’t the other Gospels make that clear? Who knows? What we can give thanks for today is that we have Luke’s witness! I think of my life and how many women have played a key role in my faith journey or the women in my life who inspire my faith today.

Take some time today to give thanks for the female disciples who followed Jesus- for their faithfulness (note how some of them were exceedingly generous with their resources to support the “mission”) and for walking by faith. Imagine them on the journey as you read the rest of Luke. Don’t just focus on the 12 closest disciples who get all the press! Remember, there were others, including plenty of female followers.

And today, please give thanks for female followers of Jesus who have or continue to support you on your journey of faith. Who are those women who inspire you to be more like Jesus or have helped you grow closer to God?

Prayer- We thank you Jesus for those women who chose to follow you and for their support of your ministry. We thank you for their leadership, their provisions, and for their willingness to follow you all the way. Help us in our day to follow their example and follow you through “thick and thin”. Indeed those first disciples were the receptive “good soil” . Help us to be the good soil today, tomorrow, and in all the days to come!

FRIENDS ADDED
Mary Magdalene
Joanna
Susanna
Many other women
“Anyone who does the will of God”- says nothing about status, wealth, etc
*does not say anyone who “believes in the will of God”
*it says- “does” the will of God which means that faith is called to be mobilized, acted upon. It is not to sit still. We will see this theme in Luke 10 ithe the parable of the Good Samaritan

CAUSES
Jesus reminds us of the importance of ongoing sharing of the faith. Having outstretched hands and reaching out in society with God’s goodness is our job. The results are up to God. We can’t control receptivity of others. We can only reach out and share but. . . .as Jesus reminds us. .. . some will indeed be receptive. Christians will face rejection but our job is to remain faithful to reaching out.


Ministry of females—Jesus way ahead of his time

OTHER NOTES
Note the anxiety Jesus’ ministry is causing Jesus’ mother and family members!

One would expect that if the women accompany Jesus all the way to the cross and “empty tomb”, they will be a key part of the witness in the book of Acts, the post Resurrection era. Join me as we explore Acts in April and May at http://www.ripplingout.blogspot.com/


Song- Praise You in this Storm (comes to mind with verses 22-25) -- For the "Strorms" in our Life