The good news of Luke

Luke 2:19 The power of observation! Have you looked for God working in and around you? Have you pondered this? Mary had the angel visit, became pregnant without Joseph, and now had Shepherds coming to where she was. She had lots to ponder and she would need these memories as she saw her son nailed to a cross!!! It's a good idea to write down the times when God has been speaking to us so that when the times of trial come we can read what we have written and ponder God's workings in our heart and mind.

Luke 2:17-18 They were scared but heard the message, then they acted upon the message and discovered the message was real. After this discovery they spread the word. The Messiah is born. People believed them and were amazed. This is God in action. He takes folks who were nobodies in society and entrusts them with a very important message. Are we willing to tell the story? If not what's stopping us? Lord Jesus, thanks for using us; nobodies in this world but somebodies to You. Grow us in faith and obedience so we can trust You more. In Jesus name. Amen

Luke 2:15-16 Have you ever been told something from God and not acted on it because you weren't sure it was Him? The shepherds were scared with such spectacular messengers but they didn't let their fear cripple them. They acted...and went, maybe to confirm that message that they had received. Lord Jesus, help us to act on your messages so we may be obedient to You in Your Kingdom. Amen.

Luke 2:13-14 After a single angel delivered the message of Jesus a group showed up saying "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” May God's favour rest on us so we may have peace on earth. Lord Jesus, during this time of covid please guide and direct us so Your peace reigns on earth.

Luke 2:12 When you hear of something out of the ordinary you want confirmation, so the angels provided confirmation...a baby wrapped in cloths in a food trough (manger). This out of the ordinary message is confirmed with an out of the ordinary scene.

Luke 2:10-11 When something spectacular happens do we hear the words "Don't be afraid". In this case it's spectacular and the news is good. ...a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord" He also is fulfilling a prophesy that he was born in Bethlehem, the town of David (Micah 5:2) What good news has come to us. How are we responding to it?

Luke 2:8-9 Here were some shepherds doing what I think was a boring job and all of a sudden God showed Himself to them! Many times God shows up in our ordinary life. When this happens how do you respond? For the shepherds they were terrified! This seems to be a common theme when angels show up. I guess because it's something out of the ordinary. Lord Jesus, help us not to be afraid of Your work in our lives.

Luke 2:7 From ruling the universe to being placed in a feeding trough...this is the length of humility God went to for us.Things could have been different if Mary could have moved faster or if they could afford the price of making advanced reservations but this didn't happen. There was no room for Christ in the inn but there was room for Him amongst the poor. Lord Jesus, our culture has a hard year ahead of them and as a result we need to know where to spend our time and money. Please help us to use it wisely in Your Kingdom.

Luke 2:5-6 Joseph took pregnant Mary to Bethlehem with him. Some say this was a 7 day journey on foot! The nativity trail gives some interesting insights.

Luke 2:3-4 Joseph had to go to his own town to register for the census. Because he belong to the house of David this town was Bethlehem. This is preparing for the fact that it was prophecied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2

Luke 2:1-2 The timing of Jesus birth is interesting. God needed to have Jesus born in Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy in Micah 5:2 so a census enfolded that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Having a census was a rare thing as mentioned in Luke 2:2 so this is one of many amazing "God incidents" Here is a study of 44 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled.

Luke 1:30 Note that John's spiritual growth was a wildnerness experience which he ultimately went public with. So don't get discourage if it's just you and God for a period. God takes time to prepare us.

  Luke 1:67-79 Like Mary Zechariah had a time of praise in regard to what was going on and in doing so he also prophesied. He(God in the form of Jesus) has come.  He will: Redeem Raise up a King of Salvation (Salvation from our enemies and those who hate us) Show mercy Remember the holy covenant He made with Abraham Enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness And John will be a prophet of the most High go before the Lord and prepare the way for Him give people the knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins guide our feet in the path of peace

  Luke 1:64-66 When Zechariah began to speak again after announcing the name of his son people new John was special child!...So they began to praise God. Have we ever experienced a time of knowing God's direction, then silence, then the fulfillment of it?  Let's praise God for this.

  Luke 1:61-63 Everyone is surprised, both Elizabeth and Zechariah say the child’s name is to be John...which is not a name belonging to anyone else in the family. John was a unique baby!

  Luke 1:57-60 This is interesting. Elizabeth gives birth to her son and everyone is happy for her but the interesting part is she named her son.  Some how Zechariah must have been able to communicate with her to let her know her son was to be called John.  I don't know if it's culturally acceptable for a woman to name a child but what is different here is John is not named after his father but given the name which an angel gave Zechariah.

  Luke 1:56 It's interesting that Mary only stayed with Elizabeth for 3 months. This means she would have left around the time John was born.  It also means that she would have left as she started to show.  I always thought she went to Elizabeth's to hide from cultural shame but this is obviously not the case. Her shame was only from Joseph knowing he wasn't the father.  Because they were engaged, in their cultural, they could have sex so the cultural would have thought the baby was Joseph's.

Luke 1:46-55   God has been mindful of Mary's humble state His mercy extends to generation for those who fear Him He scatters those who are proud in their inmost thoughts He brings down rulers and lifts up the humble He fills the hungry with good things but leaves the rich empty handed He is merciful to Israel He keeps His promises This makes Mary excited so she rejoices.  How about us?  Are we excited about God? Lord Jesus may we see how You are working in and through us today.

  Luke 1:38-46 Instead of going quiet Mary left town and went to Elizabeth’s place. In this 6 month of Elizabeth’s conception a lot of affirmation took place for her and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary too was affirmed when John leaped in Elizabeth’s stomach at the sound of her voice. Elizabeth understood Mary given her miraculous life as well. Lord Jesus please connect us with Holy Spirit filled relationships that affect our faith in You. Thanks 

  Luke 1:38 Mary was disturbed with the good news, she heard evidence of God’s working and she finally surrendered to God’s will for her. How about us? Are we listening? Are we doubting? Are we learning. Are we surrendering to God’s will for us? Lord Jesus please guide us and give us the courage to follow Your will in Your Kingdom. Amen

Luke 1:36-37   No word from God has ever failed.   Mary, the proof is in your cousin Elizabeth.  She couldn't conceive but in her old age she's with child. The question is how do we know the information is from God? An angel visits (but satan has angels too) It makes sense given God's character It's supported in scripture (although satan used scripture with Jesus) Other Christians support it. (although you could be the first hearer of the news so you need to wait on others to hear) I have to admit I'm hesitant to say I've heard from God.  This takes on a new level of responsibility because if you're wrong there is trouble.  Like Elizabeth I think it's wise to become silent when you hear from God to watch what He says come into being but then again, maybe this is showing a lack of faith. Lord Jesus, please guide us and direct us.  Help us to hear Your voice and obey it, in Jesus name. (I've heard it said, God doesn't speak until you've done th...

  Luke 1:34-35 If you haven't had sex how can you become a Mother?  For Mary she was promised that the Holy Spirit would impregnate her.  This would mean her son would be known as "the Son of God".

  Luke 1:31-33 He will be great (it's 2020 for some reason today! :-)) and will be called the Son of the Most High (the son of God) The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David (people will revere Him like they revered David, his Father was a descendant of David and maybe Mary too) and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever (this is trickier as people have a choice to accept Jesus as their Lord but He certainly wants to be Lord of the people of Jacob's descendants...like it use to be without a King) his kingdom will never end (He rose from the dead so He has power over death so His Kingdom will remain for all eternity)

  Luke 1:30   Yesterday we were wondering how good news could be negative and we determine today based on the angel's comment the negative was coming out of fear.  "Do not be afraid" ...of the new things God is asking us to do today. "Do not be afraid"... of your God assignment that will require faith.  If we could do it on our own we wouldn't require faith.  Perfect love casts out all fear.  Lord Jesus please help us understand how much You love us so our fear would go away; and help us to hear clearly what our God assignment is; maybe it's raising kids, maybe it's to share God's love with someone else, maybe it's to share your testimony maybe it's....

Luke 1:28-29   It is interesting that good words " Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” and the visit of an angel would be perceived as negative but they bothered Mary.   Have we ever done this?  Turned a positive into a negative?  Maybe we think it's too good to be true.  Maybe we think someone is trying to manipulate us.  Maybe we think we're not worthy of the news.  Maybe the unknown just makes us feel unworthy.  Whatever it is, remember God wants the best for us so look out for it and don't be troubled by it...and wonder about it.

:uke 1:26-27   After Elizabeth had kept quiet for 5 months Mary had a spectacular encounter; a visit from Gabriel, an angel.  Mary was really a nobody and a virgin, from a small town but she was engaged to Joseph and Joseph was from the line of David.  Interesting that Joseph brings David into Jesus line of heritage.