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by Sandy Shaw
We do not know if there were three wise men – but we do read of three women who in their own way – and in God’s sight – were wise – three wise women – Elizabeth and Mary and Anna.
As we approach the end of a calendar years it is as if God gives us three wise choices to bless the rest of our lives.
Elizabeth was married – Mary was single – Anna was widowed.
They each had to deal with problems and hurts in their lives. Elizabeth had to deal with the hurt of disappointment – Mary with fears and change – Anna had to deal with grief –
They each made wise decisions. They made decisions which made them wise.
1Kings 3verse 28 – the people saw that Solomon had wisdom from God by the decisions he made. These three women made three wise decisions – and this brought blessing.
ELIZABETH – “When Herod was king of Judah there was a priest named Zechariah. . . and his wife was named Elizabeth. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous and godly people. Their lives pleased God because they always did everything God commanded and they lived with a clear conscience before God. BUT THEY HAD NO CHILDREN, because Elizabeth had been unable to conceive and now, they were both too old.” Luke 1verses 5 to 7
Elizabeth was strong - mature – a woman of God - and probably helped a lot of other women – she was righteous – devout – dedicated – God was pleased with her life.
She was carrying a lifelong heartbreak – she could not conceive – she could not become a mother. She was a mature follower of God – and yet, she had pain in her life. Living for God does not guarantee you freedom from pain.
Luke 1verses 5 to 25, and 56 to 66 – Elizabeth’s Story involves the miraculous and supernatural birth of John the Baptist. Everything did not work out perfectly – this is NOT a perfect world.
Verse 13 - “Your persistent prayers have been heard.” Elizabeth kept on praying – she never gave up – she kept praying – even in her pain! Instead of bitterness she was filled with belief. Instead of resentment she kept turning to God and continuing to pray.
Her husband Zechariah argues with an angel – I am not sure I would want to do that.
Verse 20 - “Every word I’ve told you will happen at just the right time.”
Luke 1verses 24to 25 – “Some time later, Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months she never left her house. But she kept praising God saying ‘The Lord did this for me! He has shown His blessing and taken away my shame and pain’” She gives all the credit to GOD.
She could not have had the baby thirty years previously – or ten years previously – a delay is not a denial – a ‘NOT YET’ is not a NO.
ELIZABETH WAS BLESSED BECAUSE SHE CHOSE: to trust God’s plan instead of being bitter or resentful.
The second wise woman is Mary – Luke 1verses 26 to 29 – “In the 6th month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a young virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph. The girl’s name was Mary. The angel said, ‘Greetings! God has chosen you for a SPECIAL BLESSING and He is with you!’ Mary was frightened and confused and tried to figure out what this greeting might mean. So the angel said to her, "Don’t be frightened Mary, for God has decided to bless you in a wonderful way!”
Luke 1verses 26-56 - Mary’s Story – gives us the account the miraculous birth of Jesus
v. 29 “Mary was frightened and confused”
v. 37 “Nothing is impossible with God”
v. 38 “I am the Lord’s servant and I accept his plans for me. Let it happen according to your word.” FEAR and FAITH
v. 45 - Elizabeth to Mary: “God has blessed you because you believed that God would keep his word.”
Mary then began to praise God -
Mary was probably about 14or 15 – look at her song – she knew the Word of God – God is going to put a baby in you – no wonder she was frightened.
This is not the nice story the world would like it to be.
Mary’s world is full of change – and so is Joseph’s –
She wisely surrenders to God’s plan for her life – your will be done in my life.
She knew her Bible – she quotes about a dozen Bible verses –
Luke 2:19 – she pondered treasured up all these things in her heart -
MARY WAS BLESSED BECAUSE SHE CHOSE: to believe God’s Word instead of her fears.
3WISE WOMAN – ANNA – Luke 2:22-23 – “After the birth of Jesus Joseph and Mary took the baby to the Temple in Jerusalem to dedicate him to God, because the law that God gave Moses said ‘Every first born boy is to be dedicated back to God.’”
SIMEON was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go to The Temple -
Luke 2:36-38 – “That day there was also a woman named Anna worshipping in the Temple courts. Anna was a prophetess and she was very old. She’d been a widow most of her life because her husband had died after being married only 7 years. Anna was now 84years old and since she had no family, she never left the Temple courtyards. She stayed there day and night, worshiping God with prayers and fasting. Just as Simeon was dedicating the baby to God, Anna walked by and she paused to listen. Then Anna joined in praying for the baby and she thanked God for sending a Saviour. FROM THEN ON ANNA TALKED ABOUT JESUS TO EVERYONE who was looking for redemption and freedom in Jerusalem.”
She redirected her focus upon GOD – the love of her husband was transferred to GOD -
ANNA WAS BLESSED BECAUSE SHE CHOSE - to focus on God’s presence and talk to people about Jesus.
She could have been stuck in the past – she could have been drowned in grief – she lost the love of her life.
No matter what loss you have had you cannot bring it back.
Choose God’s plan – choose to believe God’s Word instead of my fears – my fears lie – my fears do not express the truth - choose to focus upon God – rather than my problems – my difficulties – my grief.
“Gracious God, as we pray, enable us to be wise and make wise choices. As we draw near the end of another year, enable us to hold fast to Your Holy Word. Thank You for the examples of faith and faithfulness throughout the whole of the Scriptures. Thank you for Jesus – the Jesus of the Bible. Thank You for Your generous and abundant love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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