A sword through your soul
Reading: Luke 2:25-35
“A sword will pierce your own soul” (Lk 2:35)
The angel told Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end” (Lk 1:30-33). What will be a teenager’s imagination if she were to be told the above? She would have thought her Son Jesus would become very famous; He would drive out the Romans and sit on Herod’s throne or even the Caesar Augustus’ throne; He would rule the Jews in the new kingdom like Solomon and that she would be the queen mother. May be everyday she expected something great to happen that would exalt Jesus. Nothing like that happened till His ignominious death.
As against her expectation Jesus lived as a carpenter’s son, and a carpenter. He was called a demon-possessed man and not the Son of the Most High. He had no throne, He sat on a boat. He did not reign, He served. He wandered the streets. He had no kingdom. His companions were less than ordinary men. May be Mary was disappointed, confused, doubtful. Her Son died a disgraceful death. She died poor without seeing her Son on a throne. Even after His resurrection she was not exalted.
In God’s work, we should not expect glory and pomp all the time. Mostly it is labour, sweat, tears, disappointments and discouragements. Elizabeth, Mary Magdalene, Dorcas, Lydia and the many women of the New Testament all played vital roles in building the Kingdom of God. For none of them the role was easy. Women were taken prisoners by Saul and were put to death (Acts 22:4).
Any woman who wants to be a Kingdom-builder is not only blessed but also blasted. You must have the courage to face soul- stabbing problems. Whatever came her way till the end, Mary played her part faithfully. This is the lesson we learn from her. Never sit down seeing problems. Encouragements may be there or may not be there. Keep going in your calling with faith. Our rewards are in heaven.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
A sword through your soul
Reading: Luke 2:25-35
“A sword will pierce your own soul” (Lk 2:35)
The angel told Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end” (Lk 1:30-33). What will be a teenager’s imagination if she were to be told the above? She would have thought her Son Jesus would become very famous; He would drive out the Romans and sit on Herod’s throne or even the Caesar Augustus’ throne; He would rule the Jews in the new kingdom like Solomon and that she would be the queen mother. May be everyday she expected something great to happen that would exalt Jesus. Nothing like that happened till His ignominious death.
As against her expectation Jesus lived as a carpenter’s son, and a carpenter. He was called a demon-possessed man and not the Son of the Most High. He had no throne, He sat on a boat. He did not reign, He served. He wandered the streets. He had no kingdom. His companions were less than ordinary men. May be Mary was disappointed, confused, doubtful. Her Son died a disgraceful death. She died poor without seeing her Son on a throne. Even after His resurrection she was not exalted.
In God’s work, we should not expect glory and pomp all the time. Mostly it is labour, sweat, tears, disappointments and discouragements. Elizabeth, Mary Magdalene, Dorcas, Lydia and the many women of the New Testament all played vital roles in building the Kingdom of God. For none of them the role was easy. Women were taken prisoners by Saul and were put to death (Acts 22:4).
Any woman who wants to be a Kingdom-builder is not only blessed but also blasted. You must have the courage to face soul- stabbing problems. Whatever came her way till the end, Mary played her part faithfully. This is the lesson we learn from her. Never sit down seeing problems. Encouragements may be there or may not be there. Keep going in your calling with faith. Our rewards are in heaven.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org