The Remnant’s Silent Heroes (Advent 3, 2022)

Do you ever feel like a nobody in God’s plan for this earth?  Like nothing you do really matters or is seen by God?  When Jesus was born to an uncelebrated Jewish virgin and a Jewish carpenter who adopted Jesus as his own, it was a bunch of nobodies in the world’s view.  Three people with nothing remarkable or important about them. 

But not to God’s view in which they were of paramount significance.

So too, with the list of names for today in verse 37 “the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,” (Luke 3:37)

Today’s remnant from the genealogy of Jesus brings up names that mean very little to modern folk.  Only two of the names are highlighted in any way, but here’s what Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 1:26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things– and the things that are not– to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God– that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Regarding most of these people, we never hear their names (meanings in italics) mentioned again: the son of Methuselah (man of the dart, longest living human at 969 years), the son of Enoch (dedicated, initiated), the son of Jared (descent), the son of Mahalalel (praise of God), the son of Kenan (acquire, weaving).

Yet, each of them was instrumental in bringing forth the next generation,
carrying the torch of the remnant through to today. 
Had they not done what they did, obviously not for any ongoing fame
since most of them fade into the pages of history,
Jesus wouldn’t have this genealogy.

Questions for further thought:

How might you be encouraged to pick up your torch and light your world with the Gospel?

Those with notable names like Dwight Moody or Billy Graham often have silent heroes to thank and whose recognition is primarily in heaven.  Are you willing to be a silent hero instead of a notable name?

Prayer:

Lord God, thank You for the silent heroes in the pages of Scripture who teach us that carrying the light forward in hidden ways can yet be seen by You. And because of You, we can have a ministry of profound importance. We can be part of a result in the Kingdom of God that far outshines any fame we would have here on earth. Thank You, Lord, for choosing each of us in ways large and small to participate in Your Kingdom here on earth with the fruit being in the Kingdom of heaven. May we be found faithful when we see You face to face. Amen.

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Advent began Sunday, November 27, 2022 and continues to Saturday, December 24th as we explore the remnant spoken of in Scripture and awaken as the end draws near.

 By signing up on the sidebar of my Home Page you can receive these daily “Awaken, Remnant” devotionals. Or they will be reposted on SeminaryGal’s Facebook page as well.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.