Overview of: LukeToday's Reading:
Luke 1:1–80
"The Births of John and Jesus Foretold"
Focus Verses: Luke 1:16-17, 30-33
16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
Insight:
The Old Testament prophets spoke of a future hope that Israel had yet to see. This hope was more than the rebuilding of Jerusalem, more than the return of the Jews from exile, and more than the restoration of the temple. They spoke of the coming Messiah who would save his people. He would bring redemption and give new hearts. He would bring freedom and eternal life. The coming Messiah would be announced by a special messenger who would shout, "Prepare the way of the Lord."
An angel appeared to Zechariah and said, "Your son is going to be the messenger who proclaims the coming of Christ." The angel Gabriel told Mary, "You will have a son--the son of the Most High God--and he will be the long awaited Savior." It's exciting to see that the first words of promise in the New Testament are the fulfillment of the last words of promise of the Old Testament.
Response and Action:
I am thankful for God's unfolding story of redemption and salvation. By faith, I embrace the promises of the prophets. By faith, I believe that Jesus is God's promised Messiah. By faith, I believe that God is present in the world today, still working toward redemption and salvation. By faith, I have given and continue to give my life to Jesus. By faith, I have entered the unfolding story of redemption, and pray that God will direct and use me for his redemptive purposes as I serve and follow Jesus.
O God, thank you for your son Jesus, who for us and for our salvation became incarnate from the virgin Mary and was made man. Thank you that for our sake, he suffered death, but rose again on the third day as the victor over death. Help me to love and follow Jesus, with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.
Old Testament for Today: Malachi 3:1
1 "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.
In Context: Malachi 3:1 - 4:6
Proverb for Today: Prov. 26:6
"Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool."
Recommended Reading:
The Incomparable Christ
by John Stott
