Luke 1

I am looking forward to what God will teach me and my class this year through the Gospel of Luke.   In the first 4 verses, where Luke talks about why he writes this account, I am reminded that I can relate to Luke probably the most, out of all the Gospel writers and of how much I enjoyed his orderly and logical accounts in the Book of Acts.   My prayer for my class is what Luke wrote in vs 4b:  "that [they] may know the certainty of the things you have been taught".

A good starting place to the story of the greatest life ever lived is given in chapter 1 where Luke starts by telling to story of John the Baptist, the one who prepares the way for the Messiah, Jesus Christ.   Even though Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous and served God, there was still one area of their life that was considered a "reproach", and that was that they were childless.   Though they had prayed for a child for years, that prayer was still not answered until they were advanced in years.  Yet, when God answers, Zechariah is unbelieving.

What this shows me, is a reminder that God has His Timing, and that when He chooses to answer, He may answer in ways that are above and beyond what we could ever imagine.  Not only did God grant this childless couple a son, but, this son was to be considered "great in the sight of the Lord", will bring joy to many, and will prepare the way for the Lord!    And when God answers prayer, I need to be ready for the answer no matter what.   And Zechariah is a good example of one continued to serve the Lord, even while waiting for His answer to prayer.

I would like to think that something like this could happen in my own life.  That though I am advanced in age, God may one day provide a husband who will be "great in the sight of the Lord", above and beyond what I could ever imagine.

4-Dec:  The angel Gabriel then announces to Mary that she will give birth to Jesus (the Annunciation).  "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (vs 32-33)  In humility, Mary accepts the pronouncement despite the expected challenges she will face.  She received affirmation and encouragement, likely as she needed, when she went to visit Elizabeth.  Then she burst out in Psalm (her Magnificat), glorifying God for fulfilling His Promises (vs 46-55).  When she was affirmed by the truth of it all, she could not help but WORSHIP God; and that is a good example of what our response should be when we fully realize the amazing truth of God becoming man to save and deliver us.  Amen.

14-Dec:  John is born as promised by God through the angel, and as foretold, many did rejoice at his birth.  With the circumstances surrounding his birth, word spreads and many are in anticipation of what God will do.   The first thing that Zechariah does when he is able to speak again, is to PRAISE GOD!   God must have been working in him through his time of discipline and silence; and when the Holy Spirit fills him, he praises God and prophesies of the coming of the Messiah, the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, his son, and God's mercy (his Benedictus).   He clearly speaks of the "salvation through the forgiveness of their sins" and the light that will "shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace".   May we, like Zechariah, after times of discipline and silence, only strengthen our faith and be able to be used by God more afterwards.  The birth of John was miraculous for Elizabeth, Zachariah praises God, and John will be great; but, behind it all, is really the Hand of God at work.   It is His Plan, the fulfillment of His promises, the filling of the Holy Spirit, and expression of His redemptive Love.