LWML Sunday (2024)
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Luke 1:26-38
Luke 1:26-38
Greetings my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, as we give thanks to God for the work and the spread of the Gospel throughout the world, the theme for this LWML Sunday is Ready to Serve. It is a reminder that we do not know when God will call us to serve our neighbor but we are encouraged at all times to be ready to serve in Christ’s Kingdom. In our Old Testament and Gospel Lesson today, we read of two believers who were called to serve the Lord with Gladness and they were ready and prepared to go forth for God’s Kingdom.
Called into Service
Neither Samuel nor Mary expected to be called.
They are both important figures, but their importance comes from how God intended them to serve in His Kingdom and in the plan of salvation. It wasn’t the that they were already important, or great. But God chose them to help bring about not only the salvation of Israel, but even your salvation.
The call of Samuel was at the tent of meeting.
This was the tent of meeting that had been built and established by Moses during the time of the Exodus. This had served as the place of worship for 400 years as God’s people came and offered sacrifices. Samuel was an oddity, he served at the temple, but was not a relation of the High Priest Eli, but Samuel served there because the high priests sons were worthless. The Bible literally calls them worthless them Samuel’s mother, Hannah, had come up to the tent and offered up sacrifices and was overcome by sorrow for all she wanted was a child, and she promised to dedicate him to the Lord, and Eli came to her and said, Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him. She respond, Let your servant find favor in your eyes. So now her son, Samuel, is at the temple and the voice of the Lord comes to him, and after some confusion, Eli tells him to say Speak Lord, for your servant hears. The Lord reveals to Samuel his plan.
The call of Mary was at her home.
The Angel Gabriel appeared to her and brought to her news of great joy for Mary had found favor with God and would be the one to give birth to Jesus Christ our Lord. When Mary asks how will this be, it does not come from a place of doubt like Zechariah earlier in the gospel of Luke, but her question is practical like how will this be? The Holy Spirit would come upon her and overshadow her and she would conceive and give birth to the messiah. Mary’s response to this good news, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word. This helps understand how one is prepared.
How is One Ready?
In both cases it was by the Word.
Samuel heard God speak audibly, that’s why he got up and ran to bother Eli, thinking that Eli had called him, and for Mary it was the words brought by the Angel Gabriel. God comes to us through the Word that is why throughout Scriptures it repeatedly tells us to rely on the Word, for the Word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit and the Bible isn’t just the opinions of men, but the very Words of God. These two
They believed God’s Word.
In the case of Mary, that even though she was a virgin, she would give birth to the messiah, the son of God, the Christ who would save us, and Samuel believed God’s Word and heeded it, even though his first message was to tell the man that had raised him, that the Lord was bringing judgment upon him and his sons. What a message for the man who was your high priest, but Eli received it graciously.
This is why we must be in the Scriptures.
For that is where God speaks, and if we don’t know the Word, if we don’t read the Word, then how do we know who God is? We will not be ready for either the Law, like Samuel received, or the Gospel, that Mary received. There are some who wait for events like what happened to Samuel and Mary, but they are exceptional cases in the history of the World, they are not the norm. What is normal regular and where God himself points the rest of those who believe Him are to these Words. It isn’t as fancy or as cool, but God promises to work through His Word.
Why Did God Call Them?
Mary gave birth to Jesus.
It was through her flesh that the Savior of the world would be born. What an amazing and miraculous gift that God gave to mankind. For Mary knew the Scriptures and the Word of God that had been passed down through the prophets, but that God would choose her. What a great and wonderful blessing.
God called Samuel to anoint kings.
Samuel would replace Eli, and he would become a prophet, a priest, and the final judge of Israel. He would anoint the first two kings of Israel, the first being Saul whose heart was not after God, but chased after his own desires and would not repent, and that is why God would have Samuel anoint the second King of Israel, David, for
It was the offspring of David that would reign forever.
That is the child that was conceived in Mary’s womb. Even though they are separated by a 1000 years, Samuel anoints the head of David whose house would remain forever through the offspring born to Mary. God called them to serve at different times for the greatness of God’s gifts. For the Son of God came and accomplished for us great gifts.
The Son of Man
He came not to be served, but to serve.
Jesus’ birth was so that there would be one who could serve us in the way that no other person could. It is important that we are ready to serve, but quite often we find ourselves falling short. The question can be leveled at each of us, are you giving it your best? No, even though God demands your best, we fall short, and we would never be ready to do what had to be done to save the human race, but Jesus came to serve us. Jesus fulfilled all righteousness for you and me.
Jesus humbled Himself for you.
But what does it mean to humble himself? We are familiar with the Christian faith, and know the account of Christ’s suffering and passion for our sake, and that by His blood He won salvation for you. We take for granted his accomplishments upon Calvary, we see his love and his compassion, Because Jesus considers you His dear friend before you even knew him and was willing to lay down his life for your sake.
To understand Christ’s humility, consider who Jesus is in regards to His divinity. Jesus is the one through whom all things were made, JEsus was in heaven without any suffering, with angels singing His praises, Jesus was dwelling in the place where we long to be, and yet when the Father saw your desperate need for redemption, to be bought back from your sins. Jesus didn’t forsake you, or abandon you, but He emptied himself of his divine power and joined mankind in their afflictions, sorrows, and hardships. He who knew bliss, descended and took upon himself our flesh that he might joing us in our pain, suffering, and even the anguish of death. When we say he humbled himself, he lowered himself to become like you, so that he might call you his brother, sister, his dear friend and welcome you into His Kingdom.
Of Jesus’ Kingdom there is no end.
Jesus is the offspring promised to the very David that Samuel anointed and is born in the city of David to Mary, Jesus lowered himself to enter into the Creation and emptied himself of this power taking on the form of a servant and becoming obedient to death upon the cross, and the Father has exalted Him and raised him from the dead, that you might know Jesus is your savior, your Lord, and true God.
How and Where Can We Serve?
Our callings don’t seem as grand.
Samuel and Mary were in a fashion like, but God called them both that Jesus might be born into our World. So we shouldn’t be looking for a voice from heaven or the appearance of an angel, rather we should look to God’s Word as countless Christians have throughout the ages. In the Word we will find our purpose, Fathers, Mothers, Children, workers, bosses, neighbors, and as God’s Children who are called to serve others and point them to Christ.
LWML recognizes that call to serve.
They worked diligently to equip women in their callings, to serve their neighbor, and to share Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Word that brought us to life. They remain faithful to the Word and immerse themselves in it that they might be ready wherever they are called to serve.
We serve in missions, sharing the Gospel.
They share the gospel all around the globe, this is not just what the LWML is called to do, but something that all of us are called to do, and have been able to help with each time they go to serve their neighbor.
We also are called to serve those in need.
The LWML came up as an organization within our Synod that wanted to pursue more than just sharing the gospel locally, but across the nation and the globe. For many are in need of the gift of salvation. Faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.
So this LWML Sunday is a good time to reflect on God calling us to faith through the Word, a faith that rejoices and clings to what Father sent His only-begotten Son Jesus to do, and how the Spirit has called us to faith through the Word of God. Let us share that Word with everyone for that is what we are called to do. What if you aren’t ready? Well if you’re a lady you can join the LWML and they will equip ya! We can also gather together around the Word every Sunday, reading along in our Bibles, and participating in Bible Studies, and then we will all be ready to share with each soul the good news, yes Jesus died for you because he considers you His friend. In Jesus name. Amen.
