Luke 2:33-35

Luke 2:33-35

And His father and mother were marveling upon the things that are being said regarding Him.  And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold!  This one exists for the fall and rise of many and into a sign while speaking in opposition to some.  And a sword will penetrate your same soul so that the thoughts should be disclosed out of many hearts.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I have the same thought every time I read Luke 2:33.  The thought goes like this: “Really?  Mary and Joseph marveled?  How could you possibly be surprised by anything about Jesus when the angel Gabriel comes and essentially says that He is the Son of God?”  Truthfully, I’ve often wondered if Mary and Joseph were slow learners.  However, I am becoming quicker at finding humbleness in that thought.  We are human beings living in a fallen world.  We are so accustomed to the greed and selfishness of the people around us – and even within ourselves – that God’s action will always surprise us.  These words don’t mean that Mary and Joseph didn’t understand what was going on.  These words mean that they were amazed with the fresh reminder of God’s hand at work.  When I phrase it this way, I think we see something in Mary and Joseph to admire.  They weren’t amazed in confusion; they were amazed in joy.  It was amazingly refreshing to be reminded about how God’s hand was at work in the world.

Are you ever amazed at how God’s hand works in you?  Where are you refreshed by God’s presence in the midst of this world?

Second Thought:

Simeon’s words to Mary show us the typical anticipation of God’s Messiah.  Simeon says that Jesus will be the fall of many.  Jesus will be the rise of many.  Jesus will be the one who brings the deep thoughts of our hearts into the light of God.  But we also know that God will use these words in ways that even Simeon couldn’t imagine.  It is the proud who fall.  It is those who refuse to be humbled who will fall.  Specifically with Jesus, it is the religious leaders who will fall.  It is those who embrace humbleness who will be lifted up.  It is the poor and the lost and the downtrodden who will rise in Christ.  We know this to be true, but it is a truth that is best understood from a human perspective in retrospect.

When has God been a stumbling block in your life?  When has God taken you out of humbleness and lifted you up and allowed you to rise?

Third Thought:

Simeon also has a special message for Mary.  Simeon says that this same sword will pierce her very soul as well.  Many people think that this speaks to the pain that she will go through while watching her Son die upon the cross.  This certainly may be the case.  I can’t imagine that the experience of watching your child being crucified would be able to be described as anything less than soul-piercing.  However, I’m not convinced that this is the focus of Simeon’s words.  As we read through the Gospel accounts, we know that even Mary has her struggles with Jesus’ identity.  There are a couple of times that we are told that Mary and Jesus’ brothers come to Him and try to get Him to come home because they think that He is out of His mind.  I personally think that this is Simeon’s warning to Mary that she will also have to come to grips with the message of Jesus and humble herself.  We know that she does, so the warning ends well!  But I cannot imagine that this would have been an easy process for Mary to endure.  Humbling ourselves before God is never an easy process for anyone.

Where are you successful at being humble before God?  How can that feel like a sword piercing your spirit?  Where do you struggle being humble before God?  Could you describe your lack of a desire for humbleness as an attempt to resist being pierced by God’s sword?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 2:36-38

Luke 2:25-32

Luke 2:25-32

And behold!  A man was in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.  And this man was righteous and devout while waiting for the comfort of Israel.  And the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it was having been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he should see the Christ of God.  And he came in the Spirit into the temple.  And the parents of the young Jesus brought Him in to do for Him according to the custom of the Law regarding Him.  And he took Him into the arms and blessed God and said, “Now dismiss your servant, Lord, according to Your breath in peace.  Because my eyes saw your salvation that you prepared in the presence of all of the people: a light into a revelation of the Gentiles and glory of your people Israel.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Once more we get a story that reminds us to start with God.  Simeon, a righteous and devout man, see Jesus.  He picks Jesus up into his arms.  He could have started by complementing Mary and Joseph.  He could have started by letting them be the focus.  He could have started by letting himself be the focus as he recognizes God’s Messiah.  No!  This righteous and devout man blesses God.  When God acts in our life, we start by blessing Him.

When do you bless God?  Are you quick to bless God when He deserves it, or are you quick to focus on yourself or the people around you who are benefitting from God’s hand?

Second Thought:

Take a close look at what Simeon says that he saw.  Simeon says that his eyes saw salvation.  But the question is, salvation for whom?  Of course, we know the words.  This salvation is for His people.  But it isn’t just His people the Jews.  This salvation will certainly be for the glory of the Hebrew people who are in God.  Of course it is!  But Simeon also tells us that this salvation will be a light of revelation into the nations, into the Gentiles!  God has brought Jesus to do what the Hebrew people did not fulfill.  God called the Jews to be His voice into the nations about what a relationship with God looks like.  They did not fulfill that calling.  In Jesus, we will see that calling fulfilled.  In Jesus, the world is being taught about a relationship with God.  In Jesus, the whole of creation is coming to know their Creator.

How does this show Simeon’s evangelistic focus?  From where, do you think, this evangelistic focus comes?  What does it mean to you that what God brought salvation to His people that He wanted to include all of the nations from the very beginning?

Third Thought:

Simeon’s opening in just as striking as the words that he used to close his blessing.  Notice what Simeon says?  “Dismiss your servant, Lord.”  The Greek word there is “apoluo” (ἀπολύω).  It is a word that literally means to release or to set free.  I find this to be striking because there is only one thing that we are told Simeon is bound to do.  Simeon was told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen God’s Messiah.  So when Simeon says, “Set me free, Lord,” Simeon is essentially saying, “Let me die, Lord.”  Simeon has seen it all.  He has waiting for the salvation to come.  Now that he has seen it, he is ready to leave this world and rest in God’s care.  Simeon has been righteous and devout.  He has served God for a lifetime.  But I can only imagine how weary he has become being righteous in a sinful world.  His calling is complete, and to be honest I think he just wants to go home – to his eternal home with his eternal Father.

Do you know the weariness that comes with living a righteous life in the face of an unrighteous world?  Why might Simeon want to be released and depart in peace?  Does this necessarily have to be a bad thing?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 2:33-35

Luke 2:21-24

Luke 2:21-24

And when the eight days to circumcise Him were being completed and His name was being called Jesus, that which He was being called by the angel before He was being conceived in the womb.  And when the days of their ritual cleansing were being completed according to the Law of Moses, they led Him into Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord – just as it has been written in the Law of the Lord that “every male, while opening the womb, will be called holy to the Lord” – and to give sacrifices according to that which has been said in the Law of the Lord: a pair of doves or two young pigeons.  

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

These verses continue to show us the pattern of obedience in the parents of Jesus.  According to Jewish Law, the act of circumcision was to occur on the eighth day.  When the time is right, Jesus’ parents have Jesus circumcised.

Are you surprised that the theme of obedience is so present in the Gospel of Luke?  Are you attuned to how much obedience is present in your life?

Second Thought:

Then, they officially give Him a name.  When Jesus is named, Jesus’ parents listen to the words of the angel.  God’s messenger specifically told Mary that His name was to be Jesus.  That message from God is heard and obeyed.  Perhaps as equally significant is that it was remembered in the first place!  This shows that God’s Word had memorable impact upon Mary.  This gives us the rationale for the obedience of Jesus’ parents.  They are obedient because God and His will has meaning in their lives.

Does God have meaning in your life?  How can you see this fact?

Third Thought:

The law of sacrifice for a woman who has given birth to their first son can be found in Leviticus 12:8.  There is something in the law that is implied in Luke’s story but not stated outright.  The ordinary sacrifice was a lamb.  But a family who was too poor to afford a lamb could offer the doves instead.  This is another hint that we get to Lue about the character and nature of God.  God didn’t send His Son into the lap of luxury.  He didn’t give His Son a golden spoon on a golden platter.  He certainly could have, after all.  He is God.  So what does this tell us?  We can gleam two messages. 

1. God understand the life of the poor.  God understands what it means to scrape by.  God understands what it means to not be certain of one’s ability to provide for themselves in the future.
2. Satisfaction doesn’t come from material things.  Jesus came to earth and was satisfied in doing the will of the Father.  Jesus was satisfied in living up to His calling.  Jesus didn’t need the trappings of the world to be satisfied.

From where does your satisfaction come?  How much time do you spend trying to alter your level of financial self-sufficiency?  Why is this an important consideration?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 2:25-32

Luke 2:17-20

Luke 2:17-20

And after seeing, they made known the saying that was being spoken to them regarding this child.  And all the ones who heard marveled regarding that which was being said to them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things in her heart while thinking about them deeply in her heart.  And the shepherds returned while giving glory and while praising God upon everything that they heard and saw – just as it was being told to them.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

A few years ago I was studying this passage with some friends and I became aware of something that I never realized.  These shepherds are the first human evangelists!  After they see with their own eyes, they are filled with the boldness to make known what they had been told.  Here we gather a great truth.  We encounter Christ not just for ourselves.  We encounter Christ so that we can tell others about Him.

Are you an evangelist?  Do you desire to tell others about Christ?  Do you desire to tell other people what God is doing in your life?

Second Thought:

After the shepherds have their moment of evangelism, they return home.  Look at how they go about this process?  They give praise to God.  The give glory to God.  The experience causes God to get glory.  Once more we see that God is the center of the story.  He is glorified and praised.  Why is He glorified and praised?  He is reliable.  The shepherds found everything just as it was told to them.  We can trust God to live up to His Word.  We can trust His promise to save.

Do you trust God?  Do you worship Him?  Do you give glory to Him?  Where has He been reliable in your life?

Third Thought:

How does Mary respond?  Of course, she responds like a mother would.  Mary treasures everything in her heart.  Mary keeps the memories.  Mary appreciates the moment for the moment.  In fact, she takes them deep into her heart.  Here is a young girl who has never gone through this before.  She remembers the moment vividly because she stores the memory deep within her.  It becomes a part of her identity.

Do you ponder Christ in your innermost depths?  Do you store your memories of Christ deep within you so that you can hold onto their memory?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 2:21-24

Luke 2:13-16

Luke 2:13-16

And suddenly a multitude of heavenly ranks became with angels while praising God and while saying, “Glory to God in the highest and peace upon the earth and men who please Him.”  And it happened – as the angels departed from them into heaven – the shepherds were saying to each other, “We should go now to Bethlehem and we should see this thing that has become that the Lord made known to us.”  And they went – after hurrying – and they searched for Mary and Joseph and the baby who lay in a feed box.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I think that it is really important that we hear the whole praise of the whole heavenly multitude.  They declare the glory of God.  They declare peace to the earth.  We can assume that this peace about which they speak is peace with God.  In other words, in the coming of Jesus Christ, God declares peace with the world that He had created.  But then we hear a unique expression.  These angels also declare the peace of God to mankind.  But do you notice that not all of mankind are the recipients of God’s peace?  Only those who please God will know peace with God.  All of creation can know peace because all of creation is not tainted with original sin.  But humanity is tainted with original sin.  So only those who humble themselves before God and who seek His pleasure will know God’s peace.

Do you please God?  Do you know the peace of God?

Second Thought:

I am impressed by these shepherds – these normal people of society to whom God has declared this message.  The angels go away and immediately tell each other to go now.  They don’t wait for a nice day.  They don’t wait for a convenient time.  They don’t wait for their life to settle down.  In fact, it might be said that they even abandon their post!  Remember that they were out there watching the flocks.  They leave the flocks to go and see this thing that the angels talk about.  They are a curious people.  They are also a people who clearly pick God over the world.

Do you go now when God calls?  Are you ready to respond to God when He lets you in on His work?

Third Thought:

I love the description of the shepherds’ activity after they decide to leave their flocks.  Most Bibles says that these shepherds “found” Mary and Joseph and the baby.  While this is not incorrect, I personally think it is not as meaningful as it could be.  The Greek word is ἀνευρίσκω (aneurisko).  This literally means to learn the location of something by intentionally searching for it.  This word gives us the idea that the shepherds didn’t know exactly where to go and exactly what to do.  In other words, God’s didn’t give them a road map with step-by-step directions.  They shepherds had to seek out what God was doing.  The shepherds had to put in some of their own effort.  They didn’t just find it; that would be the verb ευρίσκω (eurisko).  They searched for it.  They sought it out.  They put in their own elbow grease to get involved with what God was doing.

When God calls, how much effort do you put forth?  How much effort are you willing to put forth?  Do you expect God to give you step-by-step instructions or are you willing to seek out His will?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 2:17-20

Luke 2:8-12

Luke 2:8-12

And shepherds were in the same field, while living outside and while placing a guard in the night upon their flocks.  And an angel of the Lord stood near them and the glory of the Lord shone around them.  And they were being afraid great fear.  And the angels said to them, “Do not be afraid!  For behold, I announce good news to you of great joy that will be for all people.  For today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was being born for you all in the city of David.  And this is a sign for you all: you all will find a baby having been wrapped in swaddling clothes and while lying in a feed box.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I’ve always wondered what it was like on that night that the angel appeared.  Imagine being a shepherd and hanging out with your friends while watching over the flock.  All of a sudden, an angel appears that you didn’t see draw near.  He just shows up, standing among them.  I can only imagine their shock and amazement.  I can only imagine their confusion.  I can only imagine their disbelief.  This is why we hear the first pronouncement of the angel.  Do not be afraid.  Again we hear the familiar caution from an angel when God shows up and is about to work.  When God’s power is truly put on display, it can be an awesome experience that strikes fear and awe into their heart.

Do you think that you would have been afraid if you had been one of the shepherds?  Do you think that you would have understood had you been there on that night?

Second Thought:

I think that one of the reasons that this story is among my favorite stories in the Bible is that it is the story where the public knowledge of God’s plan of salvation happens.  Up until now, it was basically a plot known only to Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Zechariah.  But now shepherds are involved.  This also causes me to pause.  God had been planning this event for thousands of years.  Yet He chooses to have the inaugural witnesses be some common people who happen to be in the vicinity.  This story just confirms that God does new things.  He doesn’t see things through the say eyes as we do.  We would expect Jesus to be born into nobility and witnessed by the important people who could spread the word around.  Instead, God takes this plan that He’s been developing for thousands of years and that human beings had been waiting for hundreds of years and has it occur through a young unmarried girl from a town with a poor reputation and it is witnessed by a few normal shepherds.  That’s God at work.

What do you think it says about God that He chose shepherds as one of His witnesses?  Have you ever considered how the story of Jesus’ birth truly reflects God’s character and nature?

Third Thought:

If we continue the story of amazement, I wonder what the shepherds thought of the sign that they were given.  They would find a baby lying in a feed box.  On one hand, I’m sure that this is part of why the shepherds were chosen.  They would know where to look, of course.  They wouldn’t be appalled at seeing a baby among domesticated animals.  In this perspective, they were an incredible choice to bear witness to God’s hand at work.  But on the other hand, what must they have thought?  God’s Messiah had come.  That would be cool.  It would be a message of incredible joy for the Hebrew people.  But why was God’s Messiah lying in a manger?  As neat as this message would have been to hear, I can only imagine how the message continued to add to the confusion.  Of course, looking back in hindsight makes it easy to understand.  But in the moment, I can’t help but wonder how this message from God was received.

How do you think you would have reacted to the news that God’s own Messiah was resting in a feedbox?  How does this part of the story help us understand that God really doesn’t view the world through the same lens as human beings typically do?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 2:13-20

Luke 2:1-7

Luke 2:1-7

And it became in those days an official order came out from Caesar Augustus to register the whole inhabited world.  This first registration became while Quirinius governed Syria.  And all were going to be registered – each into his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea – into the city of David, which is being called Bethlehem, for the sake of him being out of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary who has been betrothed to him while being pregnant.  And it became – in their being there – the days were being fulfilled to give birth to Him.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and she laid Him in a feed box because there was no place for them inn.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I find it absolutely no coincidence that when the Lord’s Messiah was about to come into the world that the Roman Emperor is focused on money.  How do we know that the Emperor is focused on money?  There were two main reasons that the Emperor took a census.  The first reason was to make sure that the Roman Emperor knew what military obligations a land could provide him.  However, the Jews were exempt from military service, so there would be no reason for the Emperor to have a census for this reason.  That only leaves one other reason.  Jewish governors always wanted to know how much tax they could expect from the population.  In order to find a legitimate idea of the tax base, a census was needed.  As Jesus comes into the world, the Roman Emperor’s mind turns to money.

Are you surprised that the world – especially its leaders – weren’t in a position to notice Jesus?  From your experience, what are the primary reasons that people in the world lose sight of Jesus?

Second Thought:

Once more we understand that the primary teaching here in this passage centers on obedience.  Joseph and Mary are obedient to the census.  But on a far more deep and spiritual note, they are obedient to the Word of God.  The Word of God tells us that God’s Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, among many other things.  Mary and Joseph may not have gone to Bethlehem because God’s Word told them to go, but they are obedient nonetheless.

Are you surprised by yet another place to see obedience in the story of Jesus’ birth?  How does this help you think about your own obedience and willingness to be obedient?  Have you ever found yourself being obedient to God even when it wasn’t intentional?  How does this happen to you?

Third Thought:

There was no room at the inn.  Jesus is born in one of the most humble beginnings.  The world had no room for Him.  The only place that Mary could find was a feed box for animals.  This only serves to emphasize the first point.  The world wasn’t paying attention.  The world wasn’t waiting for God’s Messiah.

Are you looking for God’s hand at work?  Where do you see Him the easiest?  Where do you struggle to see god at work in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 2:8-12

Luke 1:67-80

Luke 1:67-80

And Zechariah his father was being filled with the Holy Spirit and he prophesied while saying, “The Lord God of Israel is blessed, because he was present to help and to make redemption for His people and He raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his servant, just as it was spoken through the mouth of His holy prophets in ages past: to do mercy with our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, an oath that He affirmed with our father Abraham, to give to us without fear after being delivered out of the hand of the enemies to serve Him in holiness and righteousness in His presence for all of our days.  And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High.  For you will live before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins because of the compassion in mercy of our God – in which a dawn out of the high place will be present to help us, to give light to the ones who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet in the way of peace.  And the child grew and became strong in the Spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his revelation to Israel.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I feel like I am beginning to sound like I am beating the same drum over and over, but once more we can take note of Zechariah’s response to the event.  A son is born to him when he thought that his wife was barren.  But rather than focus on his own success, he focuses upon God.  God gets the glory.  God gets the praise.  God’s name is lifted up.  Zechariah takes his moment in the spotlight and directs the spotlight upon God instead.  That is what faithful people do.

How can you develop skill at removing yourself from the center of attention and putting God into the spotlight instead?  What does this story reveal to us about Zechariah’s character?

Second Thought:

What is Zechariah’s message about God?  About what does Zechariah want to remind the people?  God can be trusted.  God promised salvation to Abraham, and the time has come for the promise to be delivered.  God promised forgiveness.  That promise will be delivered.  God promised mercy.  That promise will be delivered.  God promised to shine a light upon the people who sit in darkness.  That promise will be delivered.  God promised to come to those who sit in the shadow of darkness.  That promise will be delivered.  God is a God who remembers and delivers.  He is capable of doing what He says that He will do.

Do you trust God?  How does hope help us trust?  What can make it difficult to remember to trust God?

Third Thought:

There is an interesting dynamic of humanity that if we really pay attention we can see in the birth narratives of both john and Jesus.  The world has an incredibly short memory.  Think about the public nature of the community around Elizabeth and Zechariah when John was born.  I spent a whole blog post yesterday talking about how public the witness was.  Looking ahead in the story, think about the public nature of Jesus’ birth with the shepherds and the angels and the magi.  But what is true in both stories?  Both Jesus and John are quickly forgotten.  They grow up.  The world stops taking notice of them until they become popular in the world again.  After these incredible birth narratives, both John and Jesus experience roughly thirty years of ordinary life.  The world around John and Jesus saw how these young men came into the world.  But the world’s memory is short and focused on the moment.  That’s part of the human problem.

Do you ever suffer from a bad memory with respect to how God’s hand is at work in the world?  Why is it easy for human beings to lose sight of what God has done in the past?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 2:1-7

Luke 1:57-66

Luke 1:57-66

And to Elizabeth, the time came for her to give birth and she gave birth to a son.  And the neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord showed His great mercy to her and they were rejoicing with her.  And it became in the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child.  And they were calling him upon the name of his father, Zechariah.  And answering, his mother said, “No.  Rather, he will be called John.  And they said to her, “There is nobody out of your kin who is being called by that name.”  And they were making signs to his father about what he might desire to call him.  And after asking for a writing tablet, he wrote while saying, “John is his name.”  And all were amazed.  And his mouth and his tongue were immediately being opened and he was speaking while praising God.  And fear came upon all the ones who lived near them.  And in the mountains of Judea all were discussing this word.  And all who heard placed it in their heart while saying, “What then will this child be?  For even the hand of the Lord was with him.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I like the fact that Elizabeth and Zechariah do call their child John.  Of course, this is what Gabriel told them to do.  We’ll get to that in the next point.  But for this point, I like this name because it really highlights that God is doing something new.  This baby is not named after any of his kin.  He doesn’t have shoes to fill.  There is no human analog for John.  He is able to do something new as God desires of him.  He can herald the coming of Jesus, God’s Messiah, who is the ultimate new thing that God is doing.  Even something as simple as the name of a child can point us to what God is doing.

Where have you been able to see God doing something new?  Do you find it easy to see God’s hand at work?  Do you find that you are able to follow Him when He does something new in your life?

Second Thought:

I think one of the most important aspects of this story is that all of the people around Elizabeth and Zechariah are talking about what is going on.  This is a strange story indeed.  A barren woman becomes pregnant.  Her husband is mute until the child is named and then miraculously finds his voice.  Everything about this situation is worth discussion.  The people respond.  The people take note.  The people around them find their eyes open – at least temporarily – to God’s hand at work.  Yes, God performs mighty acts to accomplish His will.  But when God acts, it is good to take notice and discuss what might be happening, too.

Have you ever witnessed a strange occurrence and heard people talk about it?  Why is it good to have people talk?  Do you think it is ever possible for people to over-discuss?  What is the problem with discussing something too much?

Third Thought:

I love the obedience of Elizabeth and Zechariah that we see in this story.  Of course, we hear the obedience of the naming.  Certainly Zechariah and Elizabeth obey the instructions of Gabriel.  But what I am talking about is the obedience in the more mundane things.  They bring the child to be circumcised on the proper day.  They find an opportunity to praise God rather than talk about themselves.  These are obedient people, not just in the big things but also in the small things.

Is it easier for you to be obedient in the big things or in the small things?  What makes obedience easy?  What makes it difficult?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 1:67-80

Luke 1:46-56

Luke 1:46-56

And Mary said, “My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit greatly rejoices upon God my savior because He looked upon the low status of his slave.  For behold!  From now on all generations will call me blessed because the powerful one did great things for me.  And His name is holy and His mercy is into generation after generation to the ones who fear Him.  He did mighty deeds in His arm, He scattered the haughty by the thought in their hearts.  He brought down the powerful from thrones and He exalted the lowly in status.  The ones who hunger, He filled up with good things; the ones who are rich He sent away empty-handed.  He helped His servant Israel, to be remembered in mercy, just as it was spoken to our fathers – to Abraham and to his descendants into the ages.”  And Mary remained with her for three months and then returned into her home.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

First and foremost, we see that Mary has learned the lesson of Gabriel.  When great things happened, we should focus on God.  Even when great things happen to us, God is the focus.  His name should be praised at all times.  That is what we see happening here.  Mary gives the praise and glory to the Father.  What has happened to her is a wonderful and scary thing, but God gets the glory.  That’s really the way that it should be.

How good are you at giving God the glory?  When is it easy for you to praise God?  When is it easier for you to focus on yourself and your own benefit while forgetting the God who fills your life with grace and mercy?

Second Thought:

The second thing that jumps out at me in this passage is Mary’s focus on God’s strength.  We’ll get to why this happens in the next thought.  But for now, we focus again on God’s strength.  He is all-powerful.  He is capable of lifting up the lowly.  He is capable of putting the rich in their place and having them walk away empty-handed.  I am reminded of all of the stories to come in the Gospel.  How many times will we see Jesus lift up the ones who come humbly to Him or who are lowly and in need?  How many times will we see Jesus turn away the arrogant and the proud and the socially elite?  What I find interesting about this whole discussion is that it is the very character of God that lifts up the lowly.  At the same time, it is the character of God that the rich and elite walk away from empty-handed.  It is God’s character that people reject or in which they find salvation.

Are you drawn to God’s character?  What is it about God that you find appealing?  Has God ever been your strength when you were lowly and humble?

Third Thought:

This naturally leads us to why it is that Mary would focus upon God’s strength – and more broadly, His character in general.  Remember who Mary was.  She was a girl from a town without a good reputation.  She was young.  She was unmarried, but betrothed to be married.  She had no children, but was suddenly finding herself inexplicably pregnant.  She had a lot going on in her life, and most of it was things for which the world around her would have looked down upon her.  She would feel lowly.  She would feel the judgment of the world upon her shoulders.  She would feel a connection to a God who has the power and the character to save.

Have you ever appreciated God’s power to save?  Have you truly known God’s power in your life?  Do you think it is necessary to be humble in order to understand God’s power?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 1:57-66

Luke 1:39-45

Luke 1:39-45

In those days, after Mary stood up she went into the mountains with haste into a city of Judah.  And she went into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.  And as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, it happened that the baby in her womb leapt and Elizabeth was being filled with the Holy Spirit.  And she cried out with a great shout and said, “You are having been blessed in women, and the fruit of your womb is having been blessed.  And why is this to me in order that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For behold.  As the sound of your greeting came into my ears, the baby in my womb leapt in extreme joy.  And blessed is the she who believes that the fulfillment will be for that which has been spoken to her from the Lord.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Mary flees to Elizabeth after she hears the word of Gabriel.  In fact, we almost get the idea in these verses that her flight is immediate.  She’s running scared. Who can blame her?  How often do angels appear to people and give messages from God?  Even more to the point, how often does the Lord send His Son into human flesh?  This is a new and unique experience, who can blame Mary for being afraid and fleeing.  However, let’s look where she flees.  She flees to Elizabeth.  Don’t forget how God was doing something through her, too.  A spiritually unique individual goes to be mentored by another spiritually unique individual in similar circumstances.  Elizabeth has a chance to coach her.  She has a chance to guide her.  She has an opportunity to speak out of her own life experience into the life of Mary.  Mary may run, but she runs right into the place where she needs to be.  She doesn’t run from God, she runs with God.

Have you ever been scared of what God was calling you to do?  How does fear affect you?  Does fear make it easier or more difficult to hear God?  How can you learn to humbly listen to God and obey His will even in the midst of your fear?

Second Thought:

I love that Elizabeth’s spiritual son leaps in her womb.  Remember that Elizabeth is no spring chicken.  She has lived a few years.  She knows that her son is something special and will be used by God.  This, when Mary shows up at her doorstep and her child leaps in her womb, she’s capable of putting two and two together and reaching the correct conclusion.  Elizabeth’s wisdom and her willingness to obey God allow her to use what happens around her to see God more fully.  Furthermore, she then shares this experience with the far less experienced Mary.  Elizabeth can use even this event to put Mary at ease in her life.

Who are the wise sages around you that see God at work around them and illustrate it for you?  Can you do this into the lives of the people around you?

Third Thought:

Elizabeth does pronounce a blessing upon Mary here in these verse.  She is praised for believing in the word of the Lord.  She certainly didn’t understand it.  I’m not honestly sure that even after Gabriel explained what would happen that she understood.  After all, as we discussed above, Mary fled!  But just because she didn’t understand doesn’t mean that she didn’t believe.  We can believe in that which we do not fully understand.  That is the fundamental definition of belief, in fact.  We cannot fully understand God, yet we still believe.  In this story Mary gives us a great example of the walk with God.  We may not understand.  But we can still act, follow Him, and obey.

How good are you at stepping out in faith?  Do you desire to understand everything before you act?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 1:46-56

Luke 1:34-38

Luke 1:34-38

And Mary said to the angel, “How is this, since I do not know a man?”  And replying, the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will cast a shadow over you; therefore the holy one who is being born will be called the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth your kinswoman, even she has conceived a son in her old age and this month is the sixth month to her who was being called barren.  For every word will not be impossible with God.”  And Mary said, “Behold the slave of the Lord!  May it come to me according to your word.”  And the angel went away from her.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Mary is admittedly confused.  After all, as most modern translations indicate, she is a virgin.  As the Greek text boldly declares, she has never known a man – or more precisely the intimacy of a man.  Yet the angel once more takes the focus off of her and puts the focus back upon God where it should rest.  How will this happen to Mary?  The Holy Spirit will come upon her.  The power of the Most High will cast a shadow upon her.  We don’t know the actual details of how god makes it happen.  But we do hear from Gabriel that God is the reason why.

Why is it important to see the continued focus upon God as we shift through the early stories in Luke’s Gospel?  What does this tell us about Luke and his research as he investigated the truth to write back to Theophilus?

Second Thought:

Gabriel gives us another really neat catchphrase regarding God.  Every word is not impossible with God.  There are two really neat dynamics that come out of this verse – neither of which come out as strongly in the manner which this verse is often translated.  {Nothing will be impossible with God.}

• First, notice that Gabriel is claiming that every word is not impossible with God.  It is one thing for actions to be possible or impossible.  But words can be said without needing proof.  Words are simply thoughts, not necessarily actions.  Promises can always be made even if we do not intend to keep them.  But this is not true with God.  With God, even every word is not impossible!
• Second, Gabriel gives us the statement as a double negative.  Gabriel could have said, “Every word is possible.”  But Gabriel actually says, “Every word is not impossible.”  What this does is to show us the assumed position of human beings when it comes to understanding God’s power.  Human beings are limited by our ability to conceive the idea in our mind.  When we see things that we cannot understand, we doubt.  We are natural skeptics.  Therefore, Gabriel gives us the warning that we need to be careful of our human nature.  Like Mary here – and Zechariah before her – we tend to doubt what we cannot understand.  With God, we need to remember that every word is not impossible.

Do you believe in God’s ability to do everything?  Are you able to live out that belief?

Third Thought:

Mary gives us an incredible display here in this passage.  After receiving this news, look at how Mary responds.  First of all, she calls herself a slave.  There is no greater statement of submission and humility than to accept the status of slave.  Second, notice that Mary calls upon the word of the Lord to happen as the Lord pleases.  She is truly submitted and humble before the Lord.  She does not to spin or twist or contort the desire of the Lord.  She submits as a slave and simply asks that the will of the Lord happen.

Are you submitting to the will of the Lord?  How do you know?  How do you display this in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 1:39-45

Luke 1:30-33

Luke 1:30-33

And the angel said to her, “Fear not, Mary, for you found grace with God.  And behold!  You will conceive in the womb and you will give birth to a Son.  And you will call His name Jesus.  This one will be great and He will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of David His father.  And He will reign upon the house of Jacob into the ages.  And there will not be an end to His kingdom.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Once more we hear an angel tell the recipient of their presence – not to mention God’s message – to not fear.  Once more we hear the reminder that a person has found grace with God.  This truly gives us another snapshot of God’s character.  So often, human beings stood in fear of gods.  Ancient people feared the wrath of gods.  But our God is different.  Yes, He can bring judgment and wrath.  But His preferred default position is a God of grace.  He wants to extend grace to us.

When you think of God, do you fear His wrath more often than you feel His grace?  Why is it easy to fear God?  Why should we focus more on His grace?

Second Thought:

We are told by Gabriel that Jesus will be called the Son of the Most High.  As I read through this passage, I think that there is something that we typically miss as we focus on Mary and her encounter with Gabriel.  While we focus on Mary, Gabriel focuses on Jesus!  This passage is about the savior of the world, not about Mary.  This passage tells us about God’s Son, God’s Messiah, and the savior of the world.  He is the one who is great.  He is the one who deserve the focus.

Do you find it easy to place your focus on things other than Jesus and the Father?  Why do you think it is easy for humans to focus on things of less importance than God?

Third Thought:

I’ve never really took the time to dive deeply into the promise of Gabriel before.  However, Gabriel tells us that Jesus will rule the house of Jacob forever.  That is a really neat promise, actually.  Gabriel tells us God’s plan from the very beginning.  The Jews were looking for a worldly Messiah who would overthrow the Romans.  God was looking for a Messiah who would rule of the people of faith forever.  Of course, that is exactly what has happened.  Jesus came, lived, and taught.  He discipled.  He died.  He was resurrected.  From that point on, He has continued to rule over the house of Jacob – God’s people of faith – forever.

Who is your king?  Who reigns in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 1:34-38

Luke 1:26-29

Luke 1:26-29

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was being sent by God into a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin while being betrothed to a man named Joseph out of the house of David.  And the name of the virgin is Mary.  And after coming to her he said, “Greetings – having been shown kind grace – the Lord is with you.” And she was being perplexed by the word and she reasoned what sort of greeting this might be.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In this passage we continue to see the unusual work of God.  God goes to a woman in Nazareth.  In the Jesus culture of the day, Nazareth was the wrong side of the tracks.  Ruffians and criminals came from Nazareth.  Rioters and insurgents came from Nazareth.  Good Law-abiding people didn’t come from Nazareth.  Yet, God sends Gabriel to a young virgin in Nazareth.  Just like God worked in a woman who was well past the age of childbearing in Elizabeth, God will bring His own Son into the world through a woman in Mary who comes from the wrong neighborhood.  God doesn’t care where we are from or what circumstance we find ourselves.  He can always use us if we are open to being used.

Have you ever felt as if you weren’t special enough to be used by God?  How does this show our human nature and our inability to see life through God’s eyes?

Second Thought:

The angel Gabriel comes to Mary.  He greets her.  He acknowledges that she is in the state of being shown kind grace.  Do you notice the tense and voice of the participle that Gabriel uses?  Gabriel says, “Having been shown kind grace.”  This is a perfect passive participle.  Perfect participles almost always indicate action coming from God.  The kind grace that is falling upon Mary is from her Heavenly Father.  Furthermore, the fact that this is a perfect tense participle tells us that her living in grace started in the past.  Her state of living in kind grace continues into the present.  It will continue into the future.  While there are many who think that Gabriel is being shown kind grace because she is about to bear the Son of God, I think that is a bit too literal for me.  I think Gabriel is highlighting a truth that we all can hear and enjoy.  Through Jesus, our relationship with God can overcome the sin that is in our lives.  Even from the beginning of the world God planned to save us from our sin.  We all live in a state of kind grace that we neither earn nor deserve.  Yes, Mary is shown kind grace.  But in Christ, we all share that status.

Have you ever considered that this participle might not be the famous title as we typical hear it taught?  What is the meaning we can glean if rather than a title this participle is seen as a state of existence?  {For those of you who know Greek, note that this is a circumstantial participle, not a substantive participle.}

Third Thought:

Note Mary’s reaction.  She is perplexed.  In other words, she doesn’t get it.  There are two significant points that I’d like to mention here.

• First, Mary doesn’t understand the message.  Remember that Zechariah didn’t understand it either.  Twice now when Gabriel came to announce God’s plan in action the people to whom he spoke didn’t understand.  So often we wish God would come and tell us His plan in person.  But that assumes we can even understand it.  Quite honestly, we as human beings are better understanding in retrospect than we are understanding before the fact.
• Second, I think the fact that she is perplexed points us back to understanding the greeting as a circumstance rather than a title.  Gabriel tells her that she is being shown kind grace.  Remember her status.  She is a nobody living in a town with a bad reputation.  She would have great difficulty seeing that circumstance as worthy of being shown kind grace.

Do you ever let your worldly circumstance mean more to you than the way that God sees you?  Why is this dangerous?  Do you think that if God came to you and explained His plan for you that you would even understand it?  How does your answer speak to the idea of humbleness and humility?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 1:30-33

Luke 1:21-25

Luke 1:21-25

And the people were waiting with apprehension for Zechariah and they were amazed at him in the delay in the temple.  And after coming out he was not powerful enough to speak to them; and they perceived that he has seen a vision in the temple.  And he was gesturing to them and he was remaining mute.  And it became that his day of service was being fulfilled.  And after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived.  And she was hiding herself for five months while saying that the Lord did this to me in this manner in the days which He looked upon me to remove my reproach in mankind.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

There are people waiting for Zechariah.  After all, he had been selected to perform a duty.  Other priests were no doubt waiting for his duty to be completed so that they could commence their own duties.  No doubt there were supervisors of the temple who wanted to make sure that Zechariah did his job as God would expect.  When Zechariah is delayed, these people understandably get worried.  I can see how a small crowd might gather when Zechariah doesn’t come out of the temple area after a reasonable amount of time had taken place.

How does God use human curiosity to help create a crowd to witness His work?  How does God use a human desire for order and familiarity to create anticipation?

Second Thought:

The Lord’s word is true.  Zechariah is unable to speak.  He is not able to explain his delay, although clearly the people figure out that something had happened. In this story we can see that there are indeed consequences to our actions.  God is a forgiving God, but our actions and attitude will bring consequences.  However, that does not mean that God abandons us.  He can work through our consequences.  Zechariah is able to get the idea across to the people that something happened.  Zechariah is allowed to continue to live, to go home to his wife, and to conceive a child.  We will have consequences, but God will be with us and work through them if we are willing.

Are you ever tempted to think that God’s forgiveness and His mercy negate the consequences for our actions?  Why is that easy to think?  Why is that wrong to think?

Third Thought:

Elizabeth’s reaction here is completely foreign to the typical human reaction in the world.  Many people – when blessed by the unthinkable – brag about it.  They post pictures of it on Facebook.  They text all of their friends.  They call anyone they can think of calling.  While these are not necessarily inherently bad things, they are avenues through which the focus can become about us and not about God.  Look at how Elizabeth responds. She actually cloisters herself.  Rather than go to everyone she knew, she actually withdraws.  She allows herself to get closer to God and focus on God.  In Elizabeth’s reaction we can see that she is indeed righteous.  Her focus is on God and God’s hand, not her own glory.

If this happened to someone that you knew and they withdrew, how would you react?  Would you think the person strange or unusual?  How can Elizabeth’s reaction help us understand the difference between a natural human reaction and the reaction of someone who is focused upon God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 1:26-29