WEBVTT

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Day 291, or October the 18th. We are all equally

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different. Our thoughts today come from Luke

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chapter 8, verses 2 and 3. And also some women

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who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases.

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Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons

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had come out. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, the

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manager of Herod's household. Susanna, and many

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others. These women were helping to support them

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out of their own means. And now the big picture

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surrounding these verses. Today we reach the

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end of the main Galilean ministry of Jesus, as

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most of his life after this will be in the south,

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where he is finally crucified outside the walls

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of the city of Jerusalem, as his ministry comes

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to an end after more than three years. These

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couple of chapters contain some of the most poignant

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events in Jesus' life. They include many parables,

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the stilling of the sea during a storm, pigs

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sent diving into the Sea of Galilee, Jairus'

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daughter raised from the dead, 5 ,000 men plus

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women and children fed, and the transfiguration

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with Moses and Elijah, all in just two chapters,

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plus much more in between these key milestones.

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Luke has researched well and lays these events

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out for us in date order. And now today's action

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step. It's significant that Jesus had a lot of

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support from women during his earthly ministry,

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as our verses for today show. They were great

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supporters out of their own pockets. Without

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material support like this from these women,

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the ministry of Jesus could have been severely

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hampered. The society of his day was so male

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-dominated that this sort of input must have

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more than raised a few eyebrows. However, in

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the 21st century, it's not just men versus women.

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It can be young versus old, or educated versus

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self -taught, or black versus white. We need

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to see situations through God's eyes rather than

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ours, and recognize people's abilities rather

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than their limitations. Don't struggle trying

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to get God to use people you approve of. Just

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trust His judgment.