When we read our Bibles we often tend to skip the genealogies. We usually think those sections of Bible as just a bunch of names of people that we don’t know, or need to know. And many times we miss the devotional benefit of them because of our attitude.
How should we look at them? Is there any spiritual benefit from them? 2 Timothy 3:16 tell us: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” So how does this passage apply to Luke 3:23-28?
I remember years ago my father was concerned about finding more information on our Jewish roots. This was a long and difficult process. Many of the people that had answers to missing links were dead, many of the documents were missing, many people did not want to discuss this matter as being Jewish was unpopular in Poland, and those that did have answers were scattered around the world.
But today, I have the answers! All thanks to the research done by my father.
Knowing that and looking at the genealogy of Luke helps me better appreciate the research done by this remarkable historian Luke. He took the time to present his readers with an accurate genealogy of Jesus. And we can benefit by careful study of Luke’s detailed work, for example, we learn: that Jesus is the promised king from the line of David (Luke 3:31); that he is a descendent of the royal line of the tribe of Judah (3:33); that he is the fulfillment of the promises given to Jacob, Isaac and Abraham (3:34, as well as being a descendent of Adam the son of God and the father of all people (3:38). Jesus is the Messiah, praise God for His faithfulness by sending his son to redeem all people that from sin.
Indeed, God is always faithful in His perfect time and way; and even the seemingly tedious details of a genealogy shout of His faithfulness, both to Israel 2000 years ago and to us today.
Timothy Rabinek
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Luke 3:10-20 ~ The Golden Rule?
What if everyone lived to serve his neighbor?
It seems so simple and yet they continue to ask John one by one…”What about me? What should I be doing different? Can the golden rule be applied to everyone’s life? The simplistic idea of “love thy neighbor as thyself” appeared to be a new revelation.
John the Baptist was essentially explaining a rule which can be found in Mark 12:31, “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” It seemed easy enough, and yet if it were followed, these people would stand out as followers of the coming Messiah.
Let’s take a look and see how we compare to some of these simple practices:
- If you have extra clothes or food, give them to someone who needs it. How are we at giving our time, abilities, or even money or possessions to others?
- Don’t touch dishonest dollars. God will provide our needs and so we have no right to be selfish and take what shouldn’t be ours.
- “Be content with your wages” John was essentially saying, “don’t justify stealing.” How often do we justify our sins? I have a right to be upset with that person after the way they treated me. Do we really?
This is by no means an exhaustive list of how to treat others. One of the best ways to serve God is to serve others. Once we put aside selfishness and pride, we can pick up an attitude of humility and service in order to live our lives completely devoted to Christ.
John was baptizing the people to show their commitment to Christ in a onetime event. But our lives are a life-long event where people are watching how we live. Are you living it for self or for God and others?
><> Josh
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Luke 3:1-9 ~ Preparing the Way
In ancient times people would run before the King to remove any obstacles in the King's path. They were to make straight any crooked roads and smooth out any uneven and rough patches. If it were now, it would be filling in pot holes, repairing fences, and pruning hedges for the presidential motorcade to pass by.
But, no King is going down my road and no President will be passing by my door. So just who am I preparing for?
“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”
These words, taken from Isaiah 40:3-5, give us a mandatory call to prepare the way of the Lord. The call is not just today, but everyday. Are there obstacles in our lives that distract others from seeing the residence of the King of Kings?
To “prepare” means to sacrifice my right to personal gain and earthly pleasures. Repentance means to turn around, turn around and walk the other direction, against the flow of the world’s traffic. Salvation means sins are forgiven and we not to continue on wallowing in them. A tree of good fruit means no more of the moldy stuff.
Preparing the way is the examining of ourselves, communicating to our Father the King and confessing our faults and short-comings. It is serving Him and living out the gospel. It is getting to the matter and the business of preparing the way of the Lord. You could say this is our mission; otherwise anything else is just fodder for the fire.
Janis Steckiel
But, no King is going down my road and no President will be passing by my door. So just who am I preparing for?
“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”
These words, taken from Isaiah 40:3-5, give us a mandatory call to prepare the way of the Lord. The call is not just today, but everyday. Are there obstacles in our lives that distract others from seeing the residence of the King of Kings?
To “prepare” means to sacrifice my right to personal gain and earthly pleasures. Repentance means to turn around, turn around and walk the other direction, against the flow of the world’s traffic. Salvation means sins are forgiven and we not to continue on wallowing in them. A tree of good fruit means no more of the moldy stuff.
Preparing the way is the examining of ourselves, communicating to our Father the King and confessing our faults and short-comings. It is serving Him and living out the gospel. It is getting to the matter and the business of preparing the way of the Lord. You could say this is our mission; otherwise anything else is just fodder for the fire.
Janis Steckiel
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Day Prayer
Something extra today . . .
An Election Day Prayer; No matter whom you are for this day, a good thing for us to do!
Also, my plan is to add some other resources to this page, if any of you have blogs or websites, I would love add a link here. Just send me an e-mail with the link.
Blessings
Bill H
An Election Day Prayer; No matter whom you are for this day, a good thing for us to do!
Also, my plan is to add some other resources to this page, if any of you have blogs or websites, I would love add a link here. Just send me an e-mail with the link.
Blessings
Bill H
Luke 2:41-52 ~ Amazing!
Jesus “amazed” everyone who heard him in the temple that day.
His answers were thorough and his understanding was well beyond his years. At only age twelve it can be presumed that boy Jesus understanding and knowledge were vastly better than the teachers of his day. Luke 2:47, “Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers,” reminds me of an admonition of the Apostle Paul in a letter to young Timothy.
In I Timothy 4: 12, Paul encourages Timothy; “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” Jesus, of course, was the perfect example of this, even in his youth. Timothy must have been struggling with his ministry and needed this spiritual boost from Paul. He (Paul) understood the impact youth can have on each other; Timothy was considered young, even being in his early 30s.
Think of the impact the youth of today would have if they lived by this example? What if the (Christian) youth of today tamed their tongue? Conducted themselves in a Christ-like manner? Loved by putting others first? Remained faithful to the cause of Christ? And stayed pure? How many people would be “AMAZED” at their lives?
Today’s youth have this same opportunity, think of the impact a Christian teen can have on a lost friend their own age by, “setting the example?” I came to know the Lord because of a friend did that for me.
Jesus wasn’t even a teen before he began setting the standard! Let’s use this text as a means of encouraging our youth that, with the right heart, God can use them to AMAZE others by showing them the power of Christ in their lives!
Michael Butash
His answers were thorough and his understanding was well beyond his years. At only age twelve it can be presumed that boy Jesus understanding and knowledge were vastly better than the teachers of his day. Luke 2:47, “Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers,” reminds me of an admonition of the Apostle Paul in a letter to young Timothy.
In I Timothy 4: 12, Paul encourages Timothy; “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” Jesus, of course, was the perfect example of this, even in his youth. Timothy must have been struggling with his ministry and needed this spiritual boost from Paul. He (Paul) understood the impact youth can have on each other; Timothy was considered young, even being in his early 30s.
Think of the impact the youth of today would have if they lived by this example? What if the (Christian) youth of today tamed their tongue? Conducted themselves in a Christ-like manner? Loved by putting others first? Remained faithful to the cause of Christ? And stayed pure? How many people would be “AMAZED” at their lives?
Today’s youth have this same opportunity, think of the impact a Christian teen can have on a lost friend their own age by, “setting the example?” I came to know the Lord because of a friend did that for me.
Jesus wasn’t even a teen before he began setting the standard! Let’s use this text as a means of encouraging our youth that, with the right heart, God can use them to AMAZE others by showing them the power of Christ in their lives!
Michael Butash
Monday, November 3, 2008
Luke 2:21-40 ~ Simeon's Faith
Jesus was no ordinary baby!
Mary and Joseph knew that from the beginning, but God continues to make the point clear. John leapt in the womb of his mother and angels sang at the birth of Jesus, and now individuals at the temple are rejoicing when they Mary’s baby. It is the latter that I will focus on, because they, in particular a man name Simeon, are examples of faith and hope.
Simeon words hold such meaning and emotion, “Now Lord, You are releasing your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation” (vs. 29-30). I imagine Simeon had that feeling that a new mom has when she looks into the face of her tiny baby, or for a man when the woman you love says “yes” to your marriage proposal—an overwhelming sense of joy, love, and hope.
Simeon was looking into the face of the tiny baby Jesus and realizing that God had kept His promise. Simeon did not need to see the Messiah as a grown man because he knew God would continue to keep His promise, Jesus would be a “light of revelation to the Gentiles” and the glory of Israel.
Fast-forward to present day. God has fulfilled those long–ago made promises and they are written in the Bible. Many prophecies have come to pass and some are still to be fulfilled in the future. God has kept His promise and provided Hope in Jesus. I am challenged by Simeon faith and I hope you are too.
Samantha Page
Mary and Joseph knew that from the beginning, but God continues to make the point clear. John leapt in the womb of his mother and angels sang at the birth of Jesus, and now individuals at the temple are rejoicing when they Mary’s baby. It is the latter that I will focus on, because they, in particular a man name Simeon, are examples of faith and hope.
Simeon words hold such meaning and emotion, “Now Lord, You are releasing your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation” (vs. 29-30). I imagine Simeon had that feeling that a new mom has when she looks into the face of her tiny baby, or for a man when the woman you love says “yes” to your marriage proposal—an overwhelming sense of joy, love, and hope.
Simeon was looking into the face of the tiny baby Jesus and realizing that God had kept His promise. Simeon did not need to see the Messiah as a grown man because he knew God would continue to keep His promise, Jesus would be a “light of revelation to the Gentiles” and the glory of Israel.
Fast-forward to present day. God has fulfilled those long–ago made promises and they are written in the Bible. Many prophecies have come to pass and some are still to be fulfilled in the future. God has kept His promise and provided Hope in Jesus. I am challenged by Simeon faith and I hope you are too.
Samantha Page
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Luke 2:1-20 ~ Who's In Charge?
Who will be in Charge on Jan. 1, 2009?
As Election Day approaches, political parties spew accusations and vie for control of the White House, while power hungry candidates are tempted to say and do almost anything to land on top. But on Nov. 4, only one will be elected president, and he will be in charge. Or will he?
In Luke 2:1 it seems that Caesar Augustus, adopted son of Julius Caesar, is in charge. Wright explains that he took control after eliminating all the opposition. Then he issued a world wide decree for registration, which meant Joseph and his pregnant fiancé, Mary, had to travel to Bethlehem during her last trimester. So instead of giving birth back in Nazareth, Caesar was responsible for stranding them in Bethlehem, where they had to lay Jesus in a feeding-trough. Or was he?
The story takes an interesting turn when angels begin proclaiming tidings of great joy to shepherds. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Right in the middle of the angel’s pronouncement, we hear something shocking. Caesar was emperor but he was not in charge after all. The true LORD, ruler, sovereign had arrived in Bethlehem in a manger.
Then the pieces start to fit. The place, like the birth, was not accidental but planned. In fact looking back to Micah 5:2 and other OT prophecies, it is pretty clear that Caesar was a mere pawn in the hand of God. While thinking he was ruling the world, he was merely setting the stage for the real Ruler to appear.
So the age old fight for power on earth continues, but regardless of who is president, emperor, dictator or governor, only one is ‘in charge’ and that One will always be the Sovereign Lord. During election season, that is truly tidings of great joy.
Jeannie Vogel
As Election Day approaches, political parties spew accusations and vie for control of the White House, while power hungry candidates are tempted to say and do almost anything to land on top. But on Nov. 4, only one will be elected president, and he will be in charge. Or will he?
In Luke 2:1 it seems that Caesar Augustus, adopted son of Julius Caesar, is in charge. Wright explains that he took control after eliminating all the opposition. Then he issued a world wide decree for registration, which meant Joseph and his pregnant fiancé, Mary, had to travel to Bethlehem during her last trimester. So instead of giving birth back in Nazareth, Caesar was responsible for stranding them in Bethlehem, where they had to lay Jesus in a feeding-trough. Or was he?
The story takes an interesting turn when angels begin proclaiming tidings of great joy to shepherds. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Right in the middle of the angel’s pronouncement, we hear something shocking. Caesar was emperor but he was not in charge after all. The true LORD, ruler, sovereign had arrived in Bethlehem in a manger.
Then the pieces start to fit. The place, like the birth, was not accidental but planned. In fact looking back to Micah 5:2 and other OT prophecies, it is pretty clear that Caesar was a mere pawn in the hand of God. While thinking he was ruling the world, he was merely setting the stage for the real Ruler to appear.
So the age old fight for power on earth continues, but regardless of who is president, emperor, dictator or governor, only one is ‘in charge’ and that One will always be the Sovereign Lord. During election season, that is truly tidings of great joy.
Jeannie Vogel
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