The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse reading–Luke 3:1-20  (day two) 

John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. vs. 16

Most of us have been to concerts that feature a group that plays prior to the main act. This opener or warm-up group is typically a young, relatively unknown, band that is trying to establish a following. Generally they will tour with an established artist in the genre they are trying to build a following with.

John was so much more than an opening act for Jesus. His message was new and ancient. His was a lone voice crying to the world about the coming promise. Unlike a band trying to be the next great thing, John was getting the world ready for the Messiah. His best efforts would never accomplish what Jesus would, and he was desperate to prepare people to meet this savior.

It is not likely that we will be called in to the wilderness to eat locusts, but we do have the commission to tell others about Jesus. Let’s do it with abandon, just like John.

Re:Verse reading–Luke 3:1-20  (day one)

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ “–v 3

For Luke, John the Baptist is an essential part of the Christmas story.  He will “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” said the angel. (Luke 1:17) Whether a man receives the gift of Christ often depends on his inner readiness.

Do we value preparation in the same way?  Do we dedicate time, attention to the necessary steps that plow up the soil of our hearts for the promised seed?

We certainly practice this wisdom in the material realm!  Think of the preparations we make! We decorate trees .  We purchase and wrap gifts.  We plan meals.  No one expects Christmas to just “happen”.  We get ready for it!

Seven days to go! Is your heart soft?  Eyes open to sin?  Soul sensitive to repentance?  Before we can hear Jesus, we must listen to John.

Are you ready for Christmas?

 

Re:Verse reading–Luke 2:39-52  (day seven)

When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.  Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.  (Luke 2:45-46)

It took Mary and Joseph three days to find Jesus.  I imagine that was the most nerve-racking three days of their lives.  We do not know what happened those 72 hours.  Some of it was traveling, maybe a day, then 2 days of searching.  Where did they look?  Where did they think Jesus might show up after so much time away?  Why did it take 3 days to finally get to the temple, both the place Jesus noted as logical and the place they had just been?

Let’s disregard why it took so long for Mary and Joseph to get there, and see where Jesus settled when he was separated from his family:  the temple.  The place of worship and sacrifice that pointed people directly to God.  The temple is exactly where he should have been.

If those closest to you went looking for you how long would it take them to come to church?  Would anyone in your life think to look in a place of worship?  Do they know your faith well enough or think of you as faithful enough that you might be found in church?  I pray for that Daniel-like faithfulness to be found in us.

 

Re:Verse reading–Luke 2:39-52  (day six)

But His mother treasured all these things in her heart. Luke 2:51

We have read these words before. It leaves us with the impression that Luke is documenting testimony from Mary herself, as if during his research he had sat down with Mary to hear her side of things. It is likely the case. More important still, it unveils a very common journey. There were likely many moments in Jesus young life where she increasingly had to come to grips with who Jesus was-the Son of God. The scene at the Temple had to be the most profound. Before that moment she likely glimpsed others in His life that gave her pause, but at the Temple she heard words from His own mouth, “Didn’t you know I had to be in MY Father’s house?”

Jesus was at the age where he now was openly reminding his parents who in fact He is; a not so subtle reminder of His calling. Mary had to come to grips with that truth.

This was not just Mary’s journey, but is ours as well. We come to repentance and faith by realizing who He is and the work He has done; our view of him only increases from there. Our spiritual journey is much like how John the Baptist described his, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

Re:Verse reading–Luke 2:39-52  (day five)

A personal word of gratitude and appreciation for R.C. Sproul, who has influenced me and countless others to love the Lord more deeply and to study and cherish the Scriptures with passion and humility.

Luke 2  ⁴⁰ The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. ⁵² And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

“And so he grew without the physical, mental and spiritual impediments of sin. And so it is natural to expect that he would be extraordinary as a human being even in his youth.” “Jesus continued to grow, not as we do sometimes, from sinfulness to obedience, but he moved from faith to faith, from grace to grace, from strength to strength, from obedience to higher levels of obedience, because as he increased in his understanding and knowledge of what God had called him to do, he had a greater capacity for deeper levels of obedience” “In all of these things he grew and grew, waiting for the beginning of his public ministry.” – R.C. Sproul

Re:Verse reading–Luke 2:39-52  (day four)

V.49  No disrespect…no rebellion…no backtalk…no pridefulness…Jesus just responded to His parents with His heavenly wisdom.  This was the first proclamation of Jesus of His identity as God’s son.  Mary had just referred to Joseph and his anxiety of not knowing where Jesus was.  Jesus began the break with His earthly family and His identification as God’s son.  It was this statement of relationship with God that would most infuriate the Jewish leaders in coming days.  Mary and Joseph knew Jesus better than anyone on earth…they knew of His birth and of the prophecy for His life.  They knew He was to be the Messiah.  What they didn’t know was how all of that would play out in Jesus’ life.

Who is Jesus?  It is a question we each must answer.  How we answer it will make all the difference in our life.  Who is Jesus?  Why did He come?  How should I respond?  These are questions to ponder in our hearts just like Mary did.  What is your answer?

Re:Verse reading–Luke 2:39-52  (day three)

“They found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.”

Do you know why it’s so hard to bring ourselves to ask honest questions? Because questions reveal to anyone who hears them what we’re interested in and what our limitations are, the exact two things we tend to hide—our frailties and what we really think. But Jesus demonstrates that this is the way human beings grow—and he introduces no alternative. Scripture shows us that Jesus is divine; he is God. But he’s human nonetheless, and fully so. Jesus did not appeal to special privilege when it came to growing up the hard way. As his questions shaped his spirit, his inmost thoughts and his weakness grew into his obedience to God and his self-sacrificial love. What questions are you asking?

Re:Verse reading–Luke 2:39-52  (day two) 

Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. vs. 46

What later would become the hallmark of Jesus’ teaching is clearly evident in this twelve year old boy. Listening and asking questions. How often would the 30 year old version of Jesus confound the disciples, the pharisees, or crowds with questions: Who do you say I am? How many fish are there?  Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? Jesus would always direct the thinking of others with questions. These questions reveal not only whether you have the knowledge, but also what your heart truly values. Perhaps we can listen and ask more questions when speaking with others. What do you think?

Re:Verse reading–Luke 2:39-52  (Day one)

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”–v 52.

It is our secret weapon!  We humans can grow.  Change.  Adapt. Learn.

The childhood of Christ sets the pattern.  Like us, the Lord grew.  Many simultaneous areas of life.   Intellectually.   Physically.  Spiritually.  Socially.  Nothing about the Lord was “perfect” if you mean a static condition that makes growth and progress unnecessary.

Becomes harder in adulthood.  More excuses accepted.  But the need for growth never goes away.

The story is told of the mountaineer who spoke one day to Mt. Everest ( before it had been conquered in the modern era)  “You have defeated us once.  You have defeated us twice, three times.  But someday we will defeat you.  You cannot grow any taller, but we can.”

What persistent problem/challenge of your life could be conquered if you learned/changed?  It will likely stay the same, but you can grow!

Re:Verse reading–Luke 2:1-20 (day seven)

Verse 10 has bothered me all week.  The angel proclaims to “bring good news of great joy which will be for all people.”  I know the good news is for all people.  We do not always share it generously, but we know that we should.  It is the other part that bothers me, the great joy.  Is the great joy for all people too?

There are people beyond the church who use the word joy, but I am not sure you can comprehend what joy is apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ.  I imagine this is our message too.  It is possible for all people to be filled with great joy, but they only know what that is when the Gospel takes root in their lives.  When we witness we are setting out to help the lost come to know a new reality that produces joy.

You may be the key component to your neighbor finally understanding what joy is.  Right now they think it is some fleeting emotion, but by the Gospel they can come to know a state of joy in Jesus Christ that does not fade.  Do not miss the opportunity this Christmas season to spread the good news of great joy.  People are far more likely to listen this time of year than any other.  Spread the joy of the Gospel!