QT 03/03/2023 Sunday Luke 8
QT 03/03/2023 Sunday Luke 8
http://www.esvbible.org/luke8
Luke acknowledges the contributions and significance of women in Luke-Acts. Women were featured prominently right from the beginning:-
Women financially supported the Twelve and Jesus (Luke 8:3);
We remember Elizabeth's welcoming of her role in bringing forth John the Baptist, overcoming the obstacles of her age (Luke 1:23-25);
Mary, in her pregnancy and in giving birth to Jesus according to the LORD's will (Luke 1 & 2), had to overcome social and cultural taboos in the process;
Prophetess Anna (Luke 2:36ff), waited upon the Lord for many years, most probably widowed at a relatively young age and remained so until she was 84 years old (fasting and praying in the temple);
A woman's participation in the big miracle in Nain with the resurrection of her dead son (Luke 7:11 onwards);
A woman's unconventional expression of love for Jesus with the use of tears and perfume (Luke 7:36 onwards), in spite of her shady past;
Women also followed Jesus, not only The Twelve (Luke 8:1-2) - three of them are in fact named here by Luke - Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna. There were in fact "many others" (Luke 8:3). Don't forget that!
The gospel portrayed by Luke even reached the most unbelievable place - "Joanna the WIFE of Cuza, Herod's household manager" (Luke 8:3);
REFLECTION (1): The participation by women in Luke receives much attention. Why is Luke paying so much attention to this?
We usually watch out for what we DO - ACTIONS.
However, Luke warns us about something else, how YOU HEAR!
"Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." (Luke 8:18)
APPLICATION: You might eventually become WHAT you listen TO. So be careful with the concepts, ideas and schemes that get RETAINED in your minds.
The chapter finishes off with the healing of the demon possessed man and the episodes of the dead girl and the sick woman. Reading 8:26 and 8:40 together, Luke portrays Jesus going OUT OF HIS WAY to reach out to the demon-possessed man.
REFLECTION (2): Have you done anything similar or come close to it? Do you serve God only when you are "on the way" or convenient?
In noticing the detail of Jesus commanding them to "give her something to eat" (Luke 8:55) after He resurrected the child, Luke highlights the importance of Jesus' concern for the physical body too.
REFLECTION (3): Do your life and ministry display any neglect for the care and restoration of the physical bodies of yours and others?
APPLICATION (2): We work hard to do God's work. But do not burn the candle at BOTH ENDS! Wisdom would tell you when that latter point is crossed.
星期日 2024年3月3日 今日读经：路加福音8章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Luk/8/
路加在《路加-使徒行传》里肯定了妇女的贡献和重要性。妇女从一开始就被突出了：-
妇女们在经济上支持了十二个门徒和耶稣(路8:3)；
我们记得以利沙伯非常欢喜地迎接施洗约翰的出生、克服了年纪的障碍(路1:23-25)；
马利亚，在按着神的旨意怀孕生耶稣的过程中(路1&2)，必须克服社会和文化上的禁忌；
女先知亚拿(路2:36ff)，等候主已多年，且大概在很年轻时就守寡一直到84岁(她在圣殿里禁食祷告)；
一个妇女参与了在拿因的大神迹，那就是她死去的儿子复活(从路7:11起);
一个妇女以不一样的方式，用眼泪和香膏来表达对耶稣的爱(路7:36起), 尽管有着不光彩的过去；
妇女也跟随耶稣，不只是十二门徒(路8:1-2)-其中三个实际上被点了名-抹大拉的马利亚、约亚拿和苏珊娜。其实还有“很多其他的”(路8:3)。不要忘了！
路加所写的福音甚至去到了你最无法想像的地方--“约亚拿，古撒的妻子，希律的管家”(路8:3);
反思(1):路加福音里的妇女的参与得到了许多人的关注。为什么路加要刻意把焦点放在妇女身上呢？
我们一般会注意我们的言行举止---行为。
然而，路加提醒我们另一件事，你怎样听！
“所以你们应当留心怎样听，因为凡是有的，还要给他；凡是没有的，连他自以为有的，也要拿去。”(路8:18)
应用：到头来，你或许会成为你所听的。所以要当心所听到的观点、思想和计谋，因为这些会滞留在你的心里。
这章经文以被鬼附过的人得医治、死去的女孩和得血漏病的妇女的事迹作为结束。把路8:26和8:40合在一起读，你会发现路加写的是耶稣如何尽所能去找寻那被鬼俯身的人。
反思(2):你有做过类似这样的事情吗？你服侍神是因为“顺便”或是方便的原因吗？
当你读到耶稣在让女孩复活后吩咐“给她吃东西”(路8:55)的细节时，路加所要强调的是耶稣对肉体的健康也很关心。
反思(3):你的生活和事奉，对于自己和别人身体的照顾和康复上，是否有所忽略？
应用(2):我们很勤奋地做主工。但不要把蜡烛的两头都烧尽了！智慧会告诉你，你是否已越过那极限。
