Reading: Luke 19: Jesus & Zachaeus, Parable, Triumphal Entry, & Cleansing Temple

Verse for Today  

Then Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:9-10) 

Daily Devo 

Zacchaeus 

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see Jesus as he passed through Jericho. He was short of stature, so he ran ahead and climbed a tree. When Jesus came to the tree, He said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down for I must stay at your house today.”  

All who saw it began to grumble, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 

Zacchaeus said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house; the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” 

Parable 

As they were listening to this, He told a parable because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the Kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then returned. He summoned his servants and gave them ten pounds, saying, “Do business with these until I come back.”’ 

The citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’ 

When he received royal power and returned, he summoned the servants who had received his pounds to see what they had gained by trading. The first said, “Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.” He said, “Well done. Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.” The second came, saying, “Lord your pound has made five pounds.” He said to him “Rule over five cities.” 

The other came, saying, “Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you because you are a harsh man. You take what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.” The nobleman said, “You wicked servant! Why did you not put my money into the bank? When I returned, I could have collected it with interest.”  

He said, “Take the pound and give it to him who made ten pounds. To all who have, more will be given; from those who have nothing even what they have will be taken away. But for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be King over them – slaughter them in my presence.” 

Entry 

After giving this parable, He continued going toward Jerusalem. Nearing Bethany on the Mount of Olives, He sent two disciples to the village where they would find a foal of a donkey that had never been ridden. He said to bring it to Him, but if anyone asked, ”What are you doing,” say “The Lord needs it.” 

They brought it to Jesus; after throwing cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As He rode toward Jerusalem, they kept spreading cloaks on the road. All His disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” 

Some Pharisees said, “Teacher, order Your disciples to stop.” He said, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” 

Weeping 

Seeing the city, He wept and said, “If you, even today, had recognized the things that make for peace! But they are hidden from your eyes. The days will come when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you and hem you in on every side.  

They will not leave within you one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.” 

Cleansing 

He entered the Temple and began to drive out those selling things there. He said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer;’ but you have made it a den of robbers” 

He taught every day in the Temple. The chief priests kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for…

“All the people were spellbound by what they heard” and the leaders feared the people. 

+++++++++++++++  

Pray for Yourself   

Father, I pray that I may seek and save the lost, as Jesus did. In His holy name, AMEN!  

My Prayer for You (and for me)  

Father, I offer this prayer for all who may read these words, and for myself. I pray that each of us will help cleanse the church of those not fully committed to Jesus, who live carnal, unholy lives by teaching them to live as Jesus lived – starting with ourselves. This is my prayer, in Jesus’s holy name, I pray, AMEN! 

2024/01/07 – Messianic Psalm #1

Reading: Psalm 2 – Messianic Psalm #1:

Daily-Devotional:                                                                                        

Psalm 2 is the most Messianically-oriented Psalm of all. All twelve verses  have something about the Messiah. It has four stanzas, each of which deals with the Messiah, from the first with the nations conspiring against the LORD and “His anointed” to the last where the final warning is given to the rulers of the earth.

First stanza, Verses 1-3, the Psalmist is the speaker: “Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and His anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us.”’

Why do they plot? They think they are ruling the world, when in fact God is ruler over everything. Just as Herod feared the newborn king and wanted to kill him to stop a rival king, all of the major rulers on earth wanted to keep their power by bursting the bonds of the LORD and His anointed from themselves and casting their cords aside so they could remain in power.

The Jews in control of the Temple in Jesus’s day conspired together to have Him killed – and in the end, Pilate went along with them. They insisted He be crucified, but Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your King?” They shouted back, “We have no king but Caesar!” They had earlier said Jesus made Himself out to be a king, and if Pilate did not crucify Jesus, he would no longer be a friend to Caesar, an unveiled threat they would expose Pilate to the wrath of the paranoid man at the head of the Roman Empire.

Second Stanza, Verses 4-6, God is the Speaker: “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD has them in derision. Then He will speak to them in His wrath, and terrify them in His fury, saying, ‘I have set My King on Zion, my Holy Hill.”’

God laughs at their folly, but His laughter had a sharp edge to it. He turns to His wrath to terrify them. He says, “I have set My King on Zion!” Zion was the place God had chosen as His footstool in the Holy of Holies of the Temple and the place only the High Priest could enter, and that only on the Day of Atonement.

Third Stanza, verses 7-9, the yet-to-be-Messiah speaks: “I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You. Ask of me, and I will make the nations Your heritage, and the ends of the earth Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.”’

When Paul and Barnabas preached in Antioch of Pisidia, in the conclusion of his message included this; “We bring you the good news that what God promised to our ancestors, He has fulfilled for us, by raising Jesus; as it is written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten you.’ As to His raising Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption.’ He spoke in this way, ‘I will give you the holy  promise made to David.’ Therefore, He said in another psalm, ‘You will not let your Holy One experience corruption.”’

Paul added that David died and experienced corruption, but the One God raised up had no corruption. Let it be known to you that through this man, Jesus, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

David wrote, “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; all the families of the nations shall worship before Him.” (Psalm 22:27). Ethan the Ezrahite wrote in another Messianic Psalm, “I will crush His foes before Him and strike down those who hate Him.”

Stanza Four, Verses 10-12, the Psalmist speaking: “Now, O Kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear; with trembling, kiss His feet, or He will be angry, and you will perish in the way; for His wrath is quickly kindled. Happy are all who take refuge in Him.”

This is a warning to us as well as to all the rulers of the earth. The Hebrew writer wrote, summing up the picture of coming to Zion with innumerable angels in a festive assembly together with all those enrolled in Heaven, to God the judge of all, the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a better covenant, whose blood speaks better things than Able’s he calls for all to consider how Jesus suffered and charges us not to refuse Him who speaks. In Hebrews 12:28-29 he writes, “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.”

Our service to God is that of reverence and awe. If we are indifferent in our worship, we have not truly worshipped. We may have gone through the motions of worship, but if our hearts are not in it, we will be like those Kings and Rulers who took counsel against the LORD and His Anointed One.

Come together to worship with prayer and praise that rings the rafters with song and thanksgiving! Come to the table where we feast on His broken body and drink the cup of His blood. Come to the house of joy because of His gifts and goodness.

Then take that joy and happiness into the darkness of this world. This is what our Savior wants of us.

2024/01/06 – The Blessed Person

Reading: Psalm 1 – The Blessed Person:

Daily-Devotional:                                                                                        

“Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law, they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

“The wicked are not so but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked will perish.” – Psalm 1, NRSV.

This is the first of the Psalms in the Book of Psalms. Who wants to follow the advice of the wicked or walk with sinners? Who wants to sit with scoffers, mocking people who are working hard – or think of those who mocked Jesus as He hung on the cross? Would you want to be like those who scoffed at Him? Much better is the fate of the thief who asked Jesus to remember him when He comes into His kingdom!

Instead, delight in the law of the LORD and meditate)e on it. Then you will prosper as Joseph did when he entered Potiphar’s house as a slave, but Potiphar saw that the LORD was with him and caused him to prosper in all that he did. (Genesis 39:3)

On the other hand, the wicked are like chaff, driven by the wind. Isaiah wrote, “The nations roar like the roaring of mighty waters, but He will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind,” (Isa. 17:13) for who can stand before the Lord?

The LORD is a righteous judge, treating all fairly. “The LORD has made Himself known, He has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.” (Psa. 9:16). That is why they do not stand in the judgment. Nor will sinners stand in the congregation of the righteous.

While the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, there is no hope for the wicked; they perish. To perish is to die. God has no protection for them. “When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before You. For You have maintained my just cause; You have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment. You rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever.” (Psa. 9:3-5)

They are blotted out of the Book of Life, never to be redeemed because they are destroyed by God – they are, indeed, snared in the work of their own hands, for God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

When Jesus gave His Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12, he blessed the poor, the mourners, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, peacemakers, and those persecuted because of their righteousness, and those who people revile falsely because of Jesus.

The bookends of the Beatitudes are the verses that say, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” But all of these are blessings of comfort, inheriting the earth, receiving mercy, seeing God, and being recognized as God’s children. The persecuted are to rejoice, as the apostles of Jesus did when they were beaten, for they rejoiced they were counted worthy of suffering for His name. (Acts 5:41)

Are we worthy of these Blessings as the early Christians were? Or are we just lukewarm benchwarmers playing “church”?

2024/01/05 – New Disciples & Healings

Reading: Luke 5 – New Disciples & Healings:

Daily-Devotional:

One day Jesus was standing by the Sea of Galilee teaching people. The crowds pressed in on Him to better hear the Word of God. He saw two boats at the shore; the fishermen were washing their nets. He got into Simon’s boat and asked him to put out a little way from the shore, where he continued teaching.

When he finished speaking, he asked Simon to go out into the deep water and cast his nets for a catch. Simon said, “Master, we worked all night but caught nothing. If you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they did this, they caught a huge number of fish, so many their nets began to break. They called their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, so they began to sink.

Simon Peter, when he saw this, fell down at Jesus’s knees, and said, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” He and the sons of Zebedee, James and John who were his partners, were amazed at this catch of fish. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they brought the  boats to shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Verse 12: Once, there was a man covered with Leprosy; when he saw Jesus, he bowed, face to the ground, and said, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out His hand, touched him, and said, “I do choose. Be made clean” Immediately, the leprosy left him, and Jesus told him to go to the priests and offer the required sacrifice.

One day, he was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were nearby. They had come from the villages of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal. Just then, some men came bringing a paralyzed man on a bed. They tried to bring him through the door, but the room was so crowded they could not enter.

They went on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down into the room on his bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The scribes and Pharisees began to question, “Who is this who speaks blasphemously? No one can forgive sins but God alone.”

Perceiving their questionings, He said to them, “Why do you have such questions in your hearts? Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? But so you will know the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the paralyzed man – “Stand up, take your bed, and go to your home.” Immediately, he stood, took his bed, and went home, glorifying God. All who saw it were amazed, and said, “We have seen strange things today.”

After this, He saw a tax collector named Levi in the tax booth. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up, left everything and followed Jesus. Levi gave a banquet for Jesus in his house; there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others at the table.

The Pharisees and their scribes complained to the disciples, saying, “Why do you eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Then they said, “John’s disciples, like the disciples of the Pharisees, frequently fast and pray, but your disciples eat and drink.” Jesus said, “You cannot make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? When the bridegroom is no longer with them, they will fast.”

This is a passage we prefer to overlook. We are more given to feasting than to fasting. Consider the injustice of world hunger. Some live in astonishing luxury; others subsist in staggering poverty, helpless to save their children from lingering death by starvation.

Denny Kruse, a missionary to Ukraine, and Stan Brian, a member of EEM, got off a plane in Kyiv where they met a Ukrainian friend Andre. His ideas often challenged their traditional ways of seeing the world; they looked forward to a thought-provoking visit with him. They went to a café and offered to buy his lunch. Andre politely refused, saying, “It’s Monday. I’m not eating today.” We teased him, “But you’re already too thin! Why not eat something with us?”

They continued to press him until he stunned them with his reason for his abstinence. “On Mondays, I fast to be in solidarity with those in the world who have no food!” They were amazed that Andre wanted to share their hunger. He voluntarily takes a small portion of their pain and saves a little money to help. Do his meager efforts make a significant impact on the global problem of hunger? They said this is the wrong question! The question should be, “What if everyone were like Andre – a part of the solution?”

Could you and I become more like Andre?

2024/01/04 – Temptation of Jesus

Reading: Luke 4 – Temptation of Jesus:

“We do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

Few are tempted, though some have, to worship Satan. Fewer are tempted to jump from the top of the Empire State Building; again, some have. But have you been tempted to turn stones into bread?

Jesus was hungry; He had fasted for 40 days with absolutely nothing to eat while The Devil was tempting him. Now, major temptations are facing Him. In His hunger, Satan slyly said, “If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.” I ask again, have you been tempted to turn stones into bread?

This is a common temptation to mankind. Red stones from Minnesota are mixed with black stones from West Virginia, heated to a high temperature, and pig iron comes out. This is converted to steel and is used for all sorts of materials from needles to girders. It generates money for many people. Money is sometimes called bread. All mankind yearns for money, even needs money, whether it comes from stones or crops in the field. It is in our materialistic nature.

Jesus resisted this temptation by reminding Satan, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone.”’ (Deut. 8:3) Jesus had lived for 40 days without bread. That cannot continue for much longer before weakness overcomes Him. Yet He faced two other temptations before receiving nourishment.

The Devil led Him up a high place and, in an instant, showed him all the kingdoms of the world. He said to Jesus, “I will give you all of these, if you will worship me, it will all be Yours.” Jesus had come to establish a kingdom. He did it through blood, sweat, tears, and death. Here was an opportunity to have all the kingdoms of the world without the ultimate price of those things. Yet He resisted the temptation by saying, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.”’ (Deut. 6:13) Anything less than this would compromise His integrity. Further, He knew the Devil was a liar, and it would not be God’s kingdom He would have.

Having been thwarted twice by Scripture, the third temptation in Luke’s account has the Devil quoting Scripture. He took Jesus to the pinnacle of the Temple and said, “If you are the Son of God throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “He will command His angels concerning You, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear You up so that You will not dash Your foot against a stone.”’ (Ps. 91:11-12)

Here Jesus could show a great exploit that would gain Him many followers. Yet He resisted, saying, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’ (Deut. 6:16)

“All that is in the world – the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches – comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:16) The materialistic lust for riches, the desire for people to look up to you as a star, and the lust for fleshly pleasures are things we need to avoid. They do not come from the Father, our God, nor His Son. God has a better plan for our lives.

“I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

These plans that God has for us, for our welfare and our future hope for an eternal life of knowing Him, are far better than the things this world offers!

2024/01/03 – Luke 3: Ministry of John the Baptist

Reading: Luke 3: Ministry of John the Baptist

Daily-Devo:

The Word of God came to John, son of Zebedee, in the wilderness. This wilderness was Northeast of the Dead Sea where the Quran Commune who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls lived. John had been with them for some years, for his parents were old when he was born. Luke 1:80 says he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel. That day has now come.

He went into the region around the Jordan River, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Isaiah prophesied, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness; Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Fill every valley, and make every mountain low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

John said to the crowds coming to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not say, “We have Abraham as our ancestor.” God is able of these stones to raise children to Abraham. The axe is at the root of the trees; every tree not bearing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

He was explicit in what he said to those who asked, “What shall we do?” To the crowds, he said whoever has two cloaks give to one who has none, and whoever has food, do likewise.

Even tax collectors asked him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” He said to collect no more than the amount prescribed. Soldiers asked him, “What shall we do?” He said do not extort money by threats or false accusations and be content with your wages.

All were questioning if he might be the Messiah. John answered them all, I baptize you in water, but one is coming after me who will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and he will gather the wheat into his granary and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.

It is evident that trees being thrown into fire if they are not bearing good fruit and the chaff being burned with unquenchable fire are symbols of judgment, despite those who pray to be baptized in fire.

When Jesus was baptized among the people, He was praying; the Holy Spirit descended on Him as a dove. A voice from Heaven said, “You are My Son, the Beloved; with You I am well pleased.”

Jesus was about 30 years old when He began His work.

Then there is His genealogy. He was (as was supposed) the son of Joseph and from there going back 75 generations to Adam who was called the Son of God. Most scholars believe this was the genealogy of Mary. The Jews did not normally name mothers in genealogies, as they did not pay much attention to women. Joseph was the son-in-law of Heli, the father of Mary. Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus came from Abraham to David, to the carrying away into Babylon, to the Messiah, 42 generations in all. That genealogy began with Abraham and went forward; Luke’s genealogy began with Joseph and Heli and went backward to Adam and God. Mary’s great-ancestor, Nathan, was the son of David, giving Jesus two lines to David: the legal line through Joseph of the house of David, and the physical line from Mary to Nathan, the son of David.

Confusing? No wonder Paul warned about involvement with genealogies!

2024/01/03 – Luke 3: Ministry of John the Baptist

Reading: Luke 3: Ministry of John the Baptist

Daily-Devo:

The Word of God came to John, son of Zebedee, in the wilderness. This wilderness was Northeast of the Dead Sea where the Quran Commune who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls lived. John had been with them for some years, for his parents were old when he was born. Luke 1:80 says he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel. That day has now come.

He went into the region around the Jordan River, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Isaiah prophesied, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness; Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Fill every valley, and make every mountain low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

John said to the crowds coming to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not say, “We have Abraham as our ancestor.” God is able of these stones to raise children to Abraham. The axe is at the root of the trees; every tree not bearing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

He was explicit in what he said to those who asked, what shall we do? To the crowds, he said whoever has two cloaks give to one who has none, and whoever has food, do likewise.

Even tax collectors asked him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” He said to collect no more than the amount prescribed. Soldiers asked him, “What shall we do?” He said do not extort money by threats or false accusations and be content with your wages.

All were questioning if he might be the Messiah. John answered them all, I baptize you in water, but one is coming after me who will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and he will gather the wheat into his granary and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.

It is evident that trees being thrown into fire if they are not bearing good fruit and the chaff being burned with unquenchable fire are symbols of judgment, despite those who pray to be baptized in fire.

When Jesus was baptized among the people, He was praying; the Holy Spirit descended on Him as a dove. A voice from Heaven said, “You are My Son, the Beloved; with You I am well pleased.”

Jesus was about 30 years old when He began His work.

Then there is His genealogy. He was (as was supposed) the son of Joseph and from there going back 75 generations to Adam who was called the Son of God. Most scholars believe this was the genealogy of Mary. The Jews did not normally name mothers in genealogies, as they did not pay much attention to women. Joseph was the son-in-law of Heli, the father of Mary. Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus came from Abraham to David, to the carrying away into Babylon, to the Messiah, 42 generations in all. That genealogy began with Abraham and went forward; Luke’s genealogy began with Joseph and Heli and went backward to Adam and God. Mary’s great-ancestor, Nathan, was the son of David, giving Jesus two lines to David: the legal line through Joseph of the house of David, and the physical line from Mary to Nathan, the son of David.

Confusing? No wonder Paul warned about involvement with genealogies!

2024/01/02 – Luke 2: Jesus Is Born

Reading: Luke 2: Jesus Is Born

Daily-Devo:

Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem, but Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth of Galilee. The time of his birth was near, so the Lord arranged for Augustus to call for a census of all the world. Every person had to go to the city of his nativity, so Joseph went to Bethlehem taking Mary with him, for the time for the birth of her son was near. (There is no mention of a donkey; there may have been one, or they may have walked.)

She gave birth to Jesus, her firstborn, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. Some teach that she was a perpetual virgin, but Scripture speaks of his brothers and sisters. Scripture does not support the immaculate conception of Mary’s mother as pronounced by Pope Pius IX in 1854. This is the doctrine that Mary was conceived without original sin because of the immaculate conception of her mother. Why would this doctrine not include Mary’s father as well; if he had original sin, would it not pass to Mary?

Back to Luke, who said there were Shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem watching their sheep that night. An angel stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The Shepherds were terrified, but the angel said, “Fear not! I bring you good news of great joy for all people of the world. To you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. You will find a child in a manger.” Suddenly, a host of angels were saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and peace on earth among those He favors.”

The angels left, and the shepherds hastily went to Bethlehem and found Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. They told the parents what the angels had said. All who heard it were amazed, but Mary treasured these words and pondered them in her heart. Others may have been amazed for a short time, but Mary thoughtfully considered what the Shepherds said. On the eighth day, the baby boy was circumcised and received His name, Jesus, the name that is higher than all names.

On the 40^th day, he was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem for the purification of Mary. They offered the sacrifice of the very poor, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

There was a righteous man in Jerusalem, Simeon, who looked for Israel’s comfort. The Holy Spirit rested on him and revealed to him he would live to see the Messiah. Simeon took Jesus in his arms saying, “Master, my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory in Israel.”

Joseph and Mary were amazed at what was being said about Jesus. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed – and a sword will pierce your soul too.”

There was also a Prophetess, Anna, a woman of great age who lived in the Temple, fasting and praying night and day. She came and began to praise God and speak about the infant to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Others may have ignored the words of the elderly Simeon and Anna, Mary kept these things in her heart. She would often bring them out to ponder over as her child continued to grow and become strong.

Luke says nothing about their flight into Egypt following the visit of the Magi recorded in Matthew. He merely says they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

They did take Jesus to the Passover when He was twelve years old. He stayed behind when his parents joined a caravan of returning worshippers. At the end of the day, they looked for him among the crowd, but could not find him. The next day, they returned to Jerusalem; on the third day, they found him in the Temple, asking and answering questions among the teachers of the law. All were amazed at His understanding and His answers.

His mother said to Him, “Child, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been searching for You in great anxiety!” He replied, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be about the things of MY Father?” They did not understand what He said to them. Nevertheless, He went home with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. Mary treasured all these things in her heart. Jesus increased in wisdom and years – and in favor with God and man.

2024/01/01 – Luke 1: Gabriel Announces Christ’s Birth

Reading: Luke 1

This is the beginning of a new reading plan for our congregation. We will read one chapter each day, and the daily devotional will be taken from that chapter. Weekdays, we will read from the New Testament. On weekends, we will read from the Psalms, the book that teaches us how to love God and find a relationship with him. We will read the entire New Testament and 105 of the 150 Psalms. We will read one of the gospels each quarter, beginning with Luke. I hope you will enjoy and learn from these readings and devotions as much as I enjoy reading and the scriptures and writing the devotions. Yours in Him, Jerry Starling.

Daily-Devo:

“O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, from you shall come one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2)

Gabriel’s announcement of the birth of the Messiah was not public. He came to Zechariah and Mary privately. The public announcement came later to Shepherds in fields near Bethlehem where He was to be born.

Zechariah was a priest whose wife was Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, who was barren. Both were getting on in years. When he was serving as a priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and make the incense offering.

As he was making this offering, there appeared to him an angel while the people were praying outside. When Zechariah saw the angel, he was terrified. The angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, for your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth will have a son; you will name him John, and many will rejoice at his birth. He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; before his birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit and will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zechariah asked, “How will I know this is so? I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” The angel said, “I am Gabriel, and I have been sent to bring you this good news. But because you did not believe my words, you will become mute, unable to speak until the day these things occur.”

After this, Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said this is what the Lord has done for me when He looked on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.

In her sixth month, Gabriel was sent to Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin engaged to Joseph, of the house of David. Her name was Mary. Gabriel said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” She was perplexed and wondered what sort of greeting this was.

Gabriel said to her, “You have found favor with God. Now, you will conceive and bear a son; you will name him Jesus. He will be called the Son of the Highest; the Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Mary asked how this could be since she was a virgin. Gabriel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; the child shall be holy; He shall be called the Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth also conceived and is in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible for God.”

Then Mary said, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Mary went with haste to Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea where she entered the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth.

Zechariah did not believe the angel Gabriel and was made mute, unable to speak. Mary asked how it could be since she was a virgin, but when Gabriel told her how she would conceive by the Holy Spirit, Mary said, let it be as you have said, and she set out quickly to visit Elizabeth.

When she entered the house, she greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the babe in her womb leaped for Joy. Elizabeth exclaimed loudly, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why has the mother of my Lord come to me? And blessed is she who believed there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Mary said in her Magnificat, “My soul magnifies the Lord, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant. I will be called blessed by all generations; for God has done great things for me; His Name is Holy. He brings down the powerful from their thrones, and has lifted the lowly according to His promise to Abraham.” Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months then returned to her home.

Elizabeth’s son was born, and her relatives wanted to name him Zachariah, but she said, “His name is John.” They motioned to Zachariah to see what he wanted his name to be. Zachariah wrote on a tablet, his name is John. Then his mouth was opened, and he began to speak, praising God. These things were talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What will this child become?”

Word about a potential Messiah began to spread quietly in Judea’s hill country.

King Josiah’s Reign

Reading: 2 Chronicles 34-35

Daily-Devotion:

Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, reigned 55 years; his son Amnon reigned 2 years. Each of those kings was evil. Amnon’s son, Josiah, began his reign when he was 8 years old. He reigned 31 years and did what was right in the sight of the LORD.

When he was 16 years old, he began to seek the God of David, his ancestor. When he was 20, he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, and sacred poles, and carved & cast images. They pulled down the altars of the Baals, demolished the incense altars, and made dust of the images scattering it over the graves of those who worshipped them. This purge went into all of Israel, including Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon as far as Naphtali in the north of Israel.

In the 18^th year of his reign, when he was 26 years old, he began to repair the Temple. While this work was in process, they found the book of the law of God. They brought it to King Josiah and read it to him.

When he heard the words of the law of God as given to Moses, he tore his robes, and charged his servants to inquire of the LORD for him, “For the wrath of the LORD on us is great, because our ancestors did not keep the word of the LORD, to act by all that is written in this book.”

Those whom Josiah sent, went to the Prophetess Hulda and spoke to her. She said, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Tell Josiah the LORD says I will bring disaster upon this place and its inhabitants – all the curses written in the book read to you. Because they have forsaken Me and made offerings to other gods, so they provoked Me to anger; My wrath will be poured out on this place. But because your heart was penitent, you will not see all the disaster I will bring.”

Then Josiah gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem with all the people, great and small, and went up to the Temple where he read to them the words of the Law as written by Moses. He then made a covenant with the people to follow the LORD, keeping His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart. He had all in Jerusalem pledged to do this. All his days, they did not turn away from following the LORD.

Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD; on the fourteenth day of the first month, they slaughtered the Passover Lambs. Josiah provided 30,000 lambs & kids plus 6&,000 bulls from his own possessions. His officials willingly gave 2,600 lambs & kids and 300 bulls. The chiefs of the Levites gave to the Levites for Passover offerings 5,000 lambs & kids and 500 bulls. They kept Passover and the feast of unleavened bread after it for seven days in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign.

After this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, King Neco of Egypt went up to Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him. But Necho sent envoys to him saying, “I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which I am at war; and God has commanded me to hurry. Stop opposing God, who is with me, so He will not destroy you.”

But Josiah would not turn away from Him but disguised himself. The archers shot King Josiah, who told his servants to take him away. They took him out of his chariot and carried him to Jerusalem in the chariot of his deputy. There he died. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned him. Jeremiah the Prophet uttered a lament for Josiah, and the singers sang of Josiah in their laments. His acts, first and last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. Josiah was a good King, but those who came after him were wicked.

Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, reigned 3 months and Neco took him to Egypt, putting his brother on the throne of David and changing his name from Eliakim to Jehoiakim. He reigned eleven years; but Nebuchadnezzar came up in his days, whom he served three years before rebelling. Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon as a prisoner. His son, Jehoiachin, reigned for 3 months and 10 days before Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon. The final king of Judah was his brother, Zedekiah, who saw his sons killed by Nebuchadnezzar before his eyes were put out.

Sennacherib’s Invasion of Judah

Reading: 2 Chronicles 29-30.

Daily-Devotion:

Following the Great Passover celebration, Hezekiah continued breaking up the pagan altars, sacred poles, pillars, and high places throughout the cities of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, destroying them all.

He himself provided from his possessions the burnt offerings the LORD required at the Temple, daily, weekly, new moons, and at the three annual feasts – Passover, Weeks (later called Pentecost), and Booths or Tabernacles.

He commanded the people of Jerusalem to give tithes and offerings to the Priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the law of the LORD. As the word spread, all Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and all the produce of the land.

In the third month, they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. Those times coincided with the harvests’ beginning and ending, and the festivals of Weeks and Booths.

Hezekiah questioned the Priests about the people’s contributions. The High Priest said that since these gifts were coming in, they had enough to eat with plenty to spare, for the LORD blessed His people so we have this great supply left over.

Hezekiah was putting things into order for the service of the LORD in the Temple.

But then, the Assyrian King, Sennacherib, invaded Judah. He encamped against the fortified cities, wanting to win them for himself. When Hezekiah saw the Assyrians planned to come to Jerusalem, he and the people stopped up the springs and the Wadi to keep water from the Assyrians. Hezekiah also built up the walls around the city and made abundant weapons and shields.

Hezekiah said to the people, “Do not be dismayed before the King of Assyria and all the horde with him; there is one greater with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

Sennacherib sent his servants to Jerusalem to discourage the people. He asked, what are you relying on that you undergo the siege of Jerusalem? Hezekiah is misleading you when he says the LORD will help you. Did Hezekiah not take away His high places and altars, saying worship at one altar? Were the gods of the nations of other lands able to save their lands from me? What makes you think your God can save you from me?

They said more against the Lord GOD and his servant Hezekiah. He also wrote letters in contempt of the LORD the God of Israel and spoke against Him, saying as the gods of nations in other lands could not rescue their people from me, so the God of Hezekiah will not rescue you from me.

Then Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed because of this and cried to Heaven. And the LORD sent an angel who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders in the camp of the King Sennacherib. So he returned in disgrace to his own land of Assyria. When he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword.

So, the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah from the hand of Sennacherib and from the hand of all his enemies. He gave them rest on every side.

The rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah in the Book of the Kings of Israel. Hezekiah reigned over Judah for twenty-nine years. He was succeeded by his son, Manasseh, who did evil in the sight of the LORD.