Scripture: Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.
Observation: I am not only struck by this verse, but by the entire section (Luke 2:8-51). There are three words that jump off the page at me throughout this chapter- grace, Spirit, and wisdom. It seems that God graces certain people with the presence of his Spirit which brings wisdom. God favors the shepherds with his grace and they immediately possess a wisdom that enables them to recognize Jesus as the cosmic King. Simeon and Anna, two saintly seniors, experience the grace of God and “get” the identity of Jesus as the promised Messiah. Jesus experiences the gracious favor and Spirit of God so that he grows in “wisdom” (2:40, 52). The bottom line is that God decides to grace certain people with his Spirit of wisdom that gives these graced ones eyes to see what they could never see on their own.
Application: I have some significant decisions to make in the weeks ahead. I am so desperate for God’s gracious Spirit that brings wisdom. I think of James 1:5 and hunger for wisdom from God. Today, and the days to follow, I will express to God my lack of wisdom and need for it consistently. Maybe, he will decide to grace me with the wisdom to see and know, just like he did with some shepherds, seniors, and the Savior!
Prayer: Lord, as I lean into your love, would you give me the grace to discern your “good, pleasing, and perfect will.” I am afraid that my eyes are sometimes blinded to what you are “up to” in the world and in my life. Give me the wisdom to see and the courage to respond to your will. Amen
4 comments:
Prayed for you. It also made me think that we are always making significant decisions that need His grace and resulting wisdom. The problem is that those decisions don't seem big enough to require that. :)
Thanks for the prayer. You are absolutely right! The little decisions in the moment, here and now, day to day, require the Spirit of wisdom that often leads us toward other opportuntities. David was faithful as a shepherd to sheep and became the shepherd of a nation. Thanks.
Going through Luke 2 today what stuck out to me was that twice it is said that Mary has "treasured these things in her heart." Along with that in verse 19 it says she pondered them. She was pondering different things that people said about her Son, and also had treasured what Jesus Himself said to her as well. When I was pondering myself the application behind what stuck out to me, I thought about how one stores the Word of God in their heart, and how I try to do that daily and sometimes just ponder what the Word says. It is interesting as I ponder the Word of God today, Mary was pondering it, in Her own Son. I just pray for myself that I would continue to store up the truth of His Word deep within my heart!
Thanks for this Sarah. I am pondering now the word God gave me from Luke 3 today!
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