Over the last couple of days, I’ve heard multiple people talk about having a goal of reading the Bible more. For some people, they want to read the entire Bible in one year. Others just want to read more regularly.
However, here is a common problem people have in this goal: Where do I start?
I can help you. First, take a look at this post I wrote a couple of years ago, 5 Steps to Understand the Bible. It’s a great place to start your new goal. Second, if you are beginning in Genesis, I wrote a series of posts on the story of Joseph. Joseph is a major character at the end of the book of Genesis, and the story of Joseph and his brothers is a little complicated. You can start with the first of those posts, Joseph: A Story of Redemption.
Finally, I have written a thought or two from each chapter in Luke. Over the next few weeks, I’ll share my thoughts, so we can read and learn from Luke together. However, don’t let this be a one way street of information. I’d love to hear your thoughts on each chapter of Luke as we read through together. Please leave your thoughts in the comments.
Luke 1: Perspective is Everything
After centuries of waiting for the promised Messiah, God acts. He begins with a cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Elizabeth and her husband, Zechariah are barren. We don’t know how old they are, but they are old enough to never have children, and they seem to have accepted this fate.
Having children is status in that society. Not having children is worse than simply having less than someone else. It’s more than just seeing a dream fade away. If even just slightly, your position in the culture is lessened. Zechariah, as a priest, is respected. Elizabeth is honored by her association with Zechariah, but as a person she’s incomplete.
Maybe this is why I find Elizabeth’s response finally conceiving a child so refreshing.
“How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” -Luke 1:25
It’s refreshing because it tells me Elizabeth had accepted her position as a childless woman, yet she continued to love and serve God. Yes, she was disappointed. I imagine she was angry with God at times. Ultimately, she choose to submit to God, through her pain and disappointment.
So when God acts, she declares His kindness. Elizabeth knows she’s seen…loved. But really, it’s no more than she already had from Him. Elizabeth’s perspective of God doesn’t really change.
He’s the same God she’s always loved and served.
Luke 2: Seeing is Believing
The Messiah has come! He’s born in a shed among livestock and placed in a feed bucket for a bed. The first visitors are lowest on the totem pole — shepherds. A few days later Mary and Joseph present the offering of the poor (two pigeons) as they dedicate Jesus at the Temple.
I hope you see the picture I’m painting. Jesus is born into a family of nobody’s. Mary and Joseph aren’t rich or influential or powerful. Yet, God uses them, and the people of God notice it.
I imagine hundreds, if not thousands of people were at the temple the day Mary and Joseph dedicated Jesus. Over the course of Simeon and Anna’s lives, millions of people have come and gone into the temple area. That day, people with money, power and authority visited the temple. Simeon and Anna saw through all of the people, rich, poor, powerful, and lowly, to find the one God had anointed.
Which brings me to my real thought: Do you see the ones God is calling you to? Do you see past money, power and authority?
God does.
God calls us all to be Simeon’s and Anna’s. He wants you to see and encourage the people He shows you.
Can you see?
Luke 3: I’m no Messiah
The time has come for Jesus to enter into the calling God designed Him for. Another, John the Baptist, runs in front of Jesus to prepare the way. For the Jews, a people conditioned to look for a savior, it was natural for them to wonder if John was the messiah.
John responds as he only can…it’s not me. It was the natural, truthful and easy thing to say. No one has ever mistaken me for the Savior, maybe you have, but it’s exactly what you and I would say in that same situation. Do you really believe it?
In our heads we believe we need a savior. In every day life we forget. We begin to think we are doing alright. You do nice things. You help those in need – big or small. For the most part, you are kind and gentle.
It sounds crazy to say out loud, but we begin to believe we are our own saviors. I don’t need a Messiah…I am my own messiah. You don’t need a savior…you are your own savior.
It’s a lie.
However, you need Jesus today as much as you did yesterday, last year or 20 years ago. You’ve been transformed, and you will continue to be transformed by the power of the One who is our Savior and Messiah.
What did you see?
Those are (some of) my thoughts from the first three chapters of Luke. What did you see? What seemed to jump off the page or screen as you read? Share them in the comments and let’s learn together!
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