Dear Friends,
I hope you will join me this month in daily reading from the gospel of Luke. As we ask God to feed us His truth, we will read one chapter each day. By Christmas day, we will have completed the letter. Let us read with joy the letter that Dr. Luke wrote for us as a “orderly account” of the testimonies of eyewitnesses to the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NIVO Luke 1:1-4
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
I was drawn to Luke 1:38 which is Mary’s response to the angelic message that she will miraculously conceive and give birth to the “Son of God.”
NIVO Luke 1:38
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.
“May it be to me as you have said.”
The angel assured her that “nothing is impossible with God.” She humbly believes this message! Her faith is simple and uncomplicated. She is not asking for a sign or confirmation. She identifies herself as the “Lord’s servant.’ The word servant is found again in Mary’s song in 1:48. The word is used for the least of the slaves in an ancient household. It shows us how humbly Mary views herself. God no doubt chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus for this primary reason. Mary was a woman of sincere faith and was willing to serve the Lord in anyway that He chose.
The unique miracle of the conception and birth of Jesus will never be duplicated. But let me leave you with these thoughts. Do you see yourself as a servant of our Lord? Are you willing to do anything that He calls you to do? Will you and I believe that He calls and directs us each day? May we answer with a joyous affirmation! YES and AMEN!
D. L. Moody was once challenged by a fellow believer to trust God for everything and in everything.
“It was in 1873, in Dublin that D.L. Moody heard British evangelist Henry Varley utter those life changing words: “The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.” It was after an all-night prayer meeting in Dublin, at the home of Henry Bewley. Varley did not even remember making the statement when Moody reminded him of it a year later.
“As I crossed the wide Atlantic,” Moody said, “the boards of the deck…were engraved with them, and when I reached Chicago, the very paving stones seemed marked with them.” The result: Moody decided he was involved in too many ministries to be effective and therefore began to concentrate on evangelism.”
The Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, W. Wiersbe, p. 200
Live in the JOY of the Lord today!
Pastor Rick