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God is up to something…. (devo reflection)

Luke 1:30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 

God is up to something. That’s the only thing I’m truly sure of in this passage. He is sending hope into the world, sending His Son to be born a defenseless baby and to grow up and disrupt the entire religious order with the ultimate goal of saving us all.

Luke 1:31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 

God is up to something, and He’s pretty much breaking all the rules of propriety to do it. He’s not picking the most influential people (a lowly priest and his wife. An unwed teen and her betrothed) He’s not choosing the most powerful route for His Son’s entrance (a defenseless baby). And yet, through this act, the Savior of the world is born, and we are given a chance for eternal life.

Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 

Precious Savior, Thank You for giving me new eyes to see the Christmas story. Thank You for allowing me to wonder what You are up to with Your choices and Your actions in this story that we know by heart. Open my eyes to Your compassion, sovereignty, and love. Amen.

Luke 1:33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Have a blessed day.

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A curious mind…. (devo reflection)

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Miracle in the mundane…. (devo reflection)

Luke 1:21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 

I guess what strikes me about today’s verses is the normalcy of life after Zechariah talks with the angel of the Lord and is struck mute. That seemed incredibly momentous, while what comes next (verses 21-23) seem utterly mundane.

Luke 1:22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

I’m not entirely sure what I am supposed to make of that. Miracles are so…miraculous. It seems like everything should change–be brighter, clearer, more special. But nothing is different except Zechariah can’t speak and Elizabeth eventually becomes pregnant.

Luke 1:23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home.

Lord, Today feels like a head-scratcher. What am I supposed to take from this miracle in the mundane? Perhaps the lesson is that Your miracles are spread throughout the mundane in our lives and we need to keep a sharper eye out? Perhaps the lesson is that even with the joy of a miracle, life goes on and we need to go on with it? All I know is that You were present with Zechariah and Elizabeth long past the ending of their dream. You never forgot, and You made it happen in Your time and according to Your plan. Thank You. Amen.

Luke 1:24-25 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Have a blessed day.

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Seriously?!? … (devo reflection)

Luke 1:16-17 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

I think Zechariah’s reaction to the angel’s news (essentially, “Seriously?!?”) is pretty reasonable. This is, I think, the first miraculous birth in the Bible. There’s no precedent here. So I can understand some incredulity. But I’m a bit stumped by the angel’s reaction: Because of his disbelief, Zechariah will be mute until the baby is born.

Luke 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

Is this punishment so that he can think about his misdeed of disbelief? Is this reassurance during the 9 months wait? “I still can’t speak, so Elizabeth must still be pregnant. Everything is ok.” Is this grace–enforced silence so that he and everyone around him understands that God is with them, that this birth is miraculous?

Luke 1:19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 

Precious Savior, There is so much in this life that I don’t understand. Thank You for Your presence, Your grace, Your sovereignty. When we encounter things in life that just don’t make sense, help us to be still and know that You are God (Ps 46:10), that You are with us. Always. Amen.

Luke 1:20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

Have a blessed day.

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Even when…. (devo reflection)

Luke 1:11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 

To have an angel of the Lord appear to you and say that your prayer has been heard (v13). How wonderful that reassurance would be. But even without the assurance of an angel appearing to let me know, I’m pretty sure that God of all creation, who knows every hair on my head, who collects my tears in a bottle, who loves me more than the sparrows, hears me. Always.

Luke 1:12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 

I’m still not sure what to do when His answer is not yet or not in that way. Those answers are painful, yet God is a loving, sovereign, merciful God, so while a not yet or not in that way is hard to take, I am learning–slowly, painfully, grudgingly–that I can trust Him, even in my sadness and disappointment. He has a plan for my good and His glory.

Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for hearing our prayers. Thank You for loving us fiercely. Thank You that even when we are sad, even when we don’t understand, even when we are disappointed and confused, You are still in control. You are sovereign and loving and we can trust You. Even then.

Luke 1:14-15 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 

Have a blessed day.

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Strength and comfort…. (devo reflection)

Luke 1:5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 

Elizabeth and Mary are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Elizabeth is old, barren. She’s probably spent a large portion of her life wishing for a child only to make some sort of peace in her old age with the fact that she would never have them. Yet now she’s expecting.

Luke 1:6-7 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 

Mary was so young, still a teenager, never had relations with a man, was looking forward to her wedding, not a child. And yet, God called on her and she said yes. Now, during what will be a time of great anxiety of the unknown, they have each other for strength and comfort.

Luke 1:8-9 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 

Precious Savior, You know us so well, what we need, what we want, who can best support us, who we can support well. Help us to pay attention to the gentle nudges when you place someone on our hearts. Help us to reach out, to encourage and support others as we journey through this life. Amen.

Luke 1:10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Have a blessed day.

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Hope was born into the world…. (devo reflection)

Luke 1:1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,  

With Christmas less than two weeks away, it feels appropriate to start Luke 1 today. The first two chapters of Luke are, at their heart, Jesus’s origin story–Where he came from, How he got here. That seems important to remember in the days leading up to His birth.

Luke 1:2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 

It’s important to remember Jesus’s birth because we know where His life is heading: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). But before that ultimate sacrifice was made, hope was born into the world to an unwed teenage mother in a lowly stable.

Luke 1:3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

Precious Savior, It is so easy to get caught up in the season of Christmas, the rush of finishing a semester, the frenzy of buying, wrapping, decorating. Help us this season to step back, to take a breath, to wait in joyful anticipation for hope to be born, for grace to interrupt, for You. Amen.

Luke 1:4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Have a blessed day.

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It’s not just about following the rules…. (devo reflection)

Deuteronomy 6:24a The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God…  

Deuteronomy is in the Old Testament, which means it was pre-Jesus, and when I read it, I can’t help but think of the New Testament, the Pharisees and Sadducees, of all their rule following, of all their righteousness, of how far from God their hearts really were.

Deuteronomy 6:24b …so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.

I’m not saying obeying God’s laws isn’t important, but the Pharisees and Sadducees show how rule following and perceived righteousness alone are not all God is calling us to. It’s not just about following the rules. Jesus tells us to love one another as He has loved us.

Deuteronomy 6:25a And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us… 

Precious Savior, Thank You for Your word, which tells us how to live, which reminds us of pitfalls when rule enforcement and rule following become all that matter. Love matters. Grace matters. Compassion matters. You matter. Help us to live and love more like You. Amen.

Deuteronomy 6:25b …that will be our righteousness.”

Have a blessed day.

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Unconditionally, fiercely, eternally…. (devo reflection)

Deuteronomy 6:20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?”  

Today’s verses bring to mind the fact that God keeps His promises. But what are His promises? To never leave us nor forsake us. To use all things for our good and His glory. Eternal freedom through His Son Jesus Christ.

Deuteronomy 6:21 …tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

But why would He give so much for us? Because He’s our creator, our parent. He made us. He loves us unconditionally, fiercely, eternally. Just like the Israelites, we have a duty to leave behind a legacy that points future generations to God’s love.

Deuteronomy 6:22 Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household.  

Precious Savior, I do not deserve Your love. I cannot earn Your love. Yet You lavish me with love and blessings because I am Your deeply loved child. Thank You seems inadequate to express the gratitude in my heart. Help me to “sing of Your love forever.” Help me to tell others about Your glorious gift. Amen.

Deuteronomy 6:23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors.

Have a blessed day.

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Even when life is hard…. (devo reflection)

Deuteronomy 6:16 Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. 

My daily devo this morning contained this zinger: “In your private thoughts, you are still trying to order your world so that it is predictable and feels safe.” It goes on to remind us that our eternity will be trouble free and our earthly troubles serve to help us draw closer to God, echoing James 1:2 (Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds….)

Deuteronomy 6:17 Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. 

I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one who has trouble embracing hardship. I recognize that it is necessary for spiritual growth. I can look back at my own journey and see that those times when I was at my lowest, I was able to cling to God, to trust God in a way that was not possible during happier times.

Deuteronomy 6:18 Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors, 

Precious Savior, I know you want what is best for me. You don’t want me hurting or in pain, but when I am, I am able to see You, hear You, trust You in ways that aren’t possible during happier times. Thank You for using all the moments in my life to draw me closer. Give me strength, even when life is hard. Amen.

Deuteronomy 6:19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.

Have a blessed day.