OUTLINE:

Anna’s Undistracted Devotion
She consciously decided to serve the Lord for the remainder of her life after her husband died. While this may be considered a “special” calling, it nonetheless was godly.

Gen 2:18
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

“whatever circumstances I am”
I think most Americans’ attention is drawn immediately to financial roots when they read this passage. The truth is that Paul is talking about EVERY form of circumstance (financial, geographic, familial, emotional, etc.).

“all your needs”
“All” means just that - ALL! The key qualifier is the word “needs” in Php 4:19. It doesn’t say “wants” that we’ve expressed as “needs”. Lk 2:37b …[Anna] never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. Anna’s needs were ALWAYS met! (Lk 12:30-31)

Anna’s Undistracted Devotion
Do you think she was bored or lonely? Or do you think the Lord filled her cup because she put Him and His people first? Lk 2:36-38

Undistracted Devotion Requires…
…a power that is impossible for the human flesh to generate. God’s will is always satisfied by means of His own grace. If He desires we are “undistractedly devoted” to Christ, then He will abundantly supply the humble with grace to meet His desire (Jas 4:6).

“glorify God in your body”
Since a believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Co 6:19), we must devote ourselves to serving the Lord in it (ala Anna - Lk 2:36-38). In many ways, our “undistracted devotion to the Lord” begins within our temple, our bodies.

God extends an offer of peace to even the worst of sinners.

Lk 9:23 [Amplified]
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].

Gal 5:13
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. [aka functional love]

Harriet Tubman
Around 1850, she escaped from her slaveowner's plantation in Maryland and traveled by night up to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was then "free". But she immediately went back to help lead her friends and family out of slavery also! Gal 5:13

1Jn 3:18
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

You are FREE…to Love!
God wants us not JUST to love in a way that He knows it, but to love others so that THEY know it!

God’s love is so great that He wants to save you.
THAT is the message of the Gospel.