The Week In Review

Celebration – Inspiration - Communion

Luke 19:37-38 – And when he was come nigh, even now at the (1) descent of the mount of Olives, the (2) whole multitude of the disciples began to (3) rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they have seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.


There were some interesting patterns within the Gospel of Luke. The first interesting structural pattern was the usage of the phrase “And it came to pass.”


This phrase was used 35 times starting in chapter 1:8 and the last time in chapter 24:51. This phrase is used when the movement or action transitions from one event to another, stating the completion of something. It is used in this chapter in verse 29 as this story of Jesus unfolds.


Luke also uses contrasting in his Gospel. One example is the speech by Mary (1:46-53).

From Low Esteem to blessed of All Nations (1:48)
How God will put down mighty to God exalt the low (52)
How God will fill the hungry with good to God making the rich empty (53)


Luke’s purpose for writing this Gospel is to present the evidence of Jesus and the fulfillment. He does that with his detail and themes throughout the writing of his Gospel. These verses follow that same pattern of the writer. We see some important points in these verses that correlate with Luke’s message of the fulfillment of God’s purpose through Jesus.

The first point is with his descent of the Mount of Olives. This dramatic visual shows Jesus coming down riding on the donkey to where the people stand waiting. All that are standing there see his approaching and Jesus coming to where they are. We can celebrate and take inspiration or encouragement because Jesus chose to come down to where you and I are. In the Old Testament, if you remember only Moses could go up the mountain to be in the presence of God. But now we have God, through Jesus coming down to be among the people. This picture shows us a glimpse of the love that God has for us. He shows his love by allowing Jesus to descend down to our lowly state to be our king. Jesus left his place in heaven and descended down to earth to be where we are, and in doing so, lifts us up to where God is. He comes down to be with us, because we were not capable of coming up to be with him. We cannot measure up to God’s standards. For God so loved us he sent his son…

Come back next week for the next installment.

The Week In Review

A woman that seeks – marks of a virtuous woman

Ask, and it shall be given, seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: - Matthew 7:7


A virtuous woman knows God will open to her what she is seeking. This woman is seeking God not only for her creature comforts, but also for direction on how to be a godly wife and mother. I can say assuredly that this woman was one that sought God for directions, and this is evident in her attitude of looking forward to the future. She was not afraid of what the future held. She was not afraid of the evil times she was in, because she was seeking God and he was answering her questions for guidance and direction.


We today can have a hopeful outlook for our lives because of whom we serve. The crime in our streets, the murders, the lack of self-control do not have to make us function in fear. We do not have to function from fear because God gives us this same promise that if we ask, seek, or knock, he will give, we will find and he will open. If you are asking for help, he will give you help. If you are seeking direction, you will find the way in him. If you are knocking on the doors of heaven in prayer for something, the windows of heaven will be opened and blessings will be poured out on you. That is why as believers we can have a hopeful outlook. We do not have to live our lives based on what our circumstances look like, because we know we serve a God that says he will give to us what we need.


So what makes a woman more precious than rubies and worthy of praise? What makes a woman a virtuous woman? It is her relationship with God through his son Christ Jesus. He gives to us his righteousness and equips us for the journey ahead of us. He gives us each task to fulfill and he does not send us out unprepared to fulfill them. He gives us his Spirit, which will guide us and teach us for completion of our assignments. So if we have not made this very crucial connection then anything we do will never be successful by God’s standards. So today, I ask anyone that has not accepted Christ as his or her savior to do so.


When you do, he will not only offer eternity with God to you, but he promises to give you his Spirit that will help you walk here on earth as one of the set aside, holy people of God. And maybe you have Christ in your life, but sometimes you don’t always feel like this virtuous woman. Maybe you are having difficulties letting go of your way and accepting God’s way. You need to come today to an altar of prayer and ask God to help you. He says come and seek him and you will find him. Seek him for the strength you need to fulfill the role he has for you as wife and mother. What better day than on a day set aside to honor mothers, than to come and offer yourself completely to God so that he can make you into the mother that is worthy of all praise, because you fear the Lord. I leave you with this poem, the composition of a godly woman.