Luke 1:57-80: Something Extraordinary

“Sometimes regular duty provides the context for extraordinary visions” (Wright 7).

What would it be like to be going throughout your day doing the tasks, chores, and duties that you perform every day and all of a sudden an angel of the Lord appears before you and says “Do not be afraid. The most high God has sent me to deliver to you a special message. He wills that you….” We read about accounts of this happening in the Bible, but not in our modern day and age. The Lord doesn’t do stuff like that any more we say. That was in Bible times; that was then but this is now we think.

I have a feeling that Zechariah had similar thoughts at first. When the angel of the Lord appeared to him he said: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah: your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elisabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John” (Luke 1:13). Sure, Zechariah was a God fearing man but an angel of the Lord had never appeared to him before and delivered to him a message that was specifically for him and his household. This could be why Zechariah responded to the angel by saying “How can I be sure of this. I’m an old man! My wife’s not as young as she used to be, either” ( Luke 1:18).

Do you hear the doubting in Zechariah’s voice? Do you hear the struggle that is going on inside of him?

Like Zechariah, I find myself praying that the Lord will do something specific. Like Zechariah, when the Lord has chosen to bless me with it I doubt. Why? Why, do I doubt the Lord when I have been diligently seeking Him for something that I am positive is His will for me have. It’s because I am either not praying in faith and not truly believing that the Lord can and will do what I am asking of Him or I am looking for it to happen in a specific way; my way.

What I have learned and continue to learn is that God is not so much concerned with what I want. Rather, He is concerned that I become more like His Son. Sometimes not trusting Him results in consequences. Those consequences are not so much to punish me but are like reminders that the next time the Lord speaks however He chooses to I better listen and pay attention.

Bryan Baxter

Between Two Worlds: 22 Very Simple Ways for a New Blogger to Improve

Fellow Theophilus': Not all of this is relevant, but there are some very helpful things to guide us as we do our work for our blog . . .

Between Two Worlds: 22 Very Simple Ways for a New Blogger to Improve

Blessings
Bill H

Luke 1:39-56: Mary's Song of Response

It seems as though both Mary and Elizabeth were giddy as school girls at the news of all that God was doing. Elizabeth cried out with a loud voice as she, the Holy Spirit, and John were all moved at the arrival and greeting of Mary. Elizabeth went on in amazement to think that the Mother of the Messiah came to see her; then she encouraged Mary for her faith. Then Mary broke out in song.

Mary started right in with exalting the Lord – no wonder that God would choose Mary; she had a great understanding of who God is, and she took Him at His word. The next words out of her mouth declared her own humility in the sight of God and man (vs. 48). Her response is similar to John’s in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” She understood that God was great and she was privileged to have this role in His plan and History (vs. 48).

She then goes on to state how God had done great things for her personally and in the following verses declares how His goodness is perpetual through the generations. In verse 50 she gives a prerequisite for His mercy, “Toward those who fear Him.” Tom Wright states, “Almost every word is a biblical quotation such as Mary would have known from childhood” (15).

If any one of us were to win or inherit a million dollars, we would be so excited that we couldn’t wait to call our family and best friends. But, a million dollars doesn’t hold a candle to being blessed in the magnitude as Mary becoming the mother of Jesus. If we can ever be still long enough to consider what God has done in our lives: He invited us into His family as His children, He has gone to prepare a place for us, we are no longer slaves to sin, we have access to the throne of God at any time, and we will live with Him for eternity. . . We too should jump and shout for being so blessed by Mary’s God and Savior.

Andy Harkleroad

Luke 1:26-38: Mary's Faith

What is your view of the miraculous? Do you think God still does miracles? I never want to paint God into my box. God can act in any and through any means He chooses, I think we sometimes forget that (yes, I realize He cannot be inconsistent with His nature, so not totally in “any way’).

Mary understood this well. Wright tells us, “Mary, is to that extent, the supreme example of what always happens when God is at work by grace through human beings. God’s power from the outside, and the indwelling spirit within, together result in things being done which would have been unthinkable any other way” (11).

Think about the incredible features of this story: an Angel speaking, a direct commendation to Mary from God, the idea that her Son will be the Messiah of Israel, the Holy Spirit will conceive the child, the one born will be called “God’s Son,” and as a sign, your older barren cousin Elizabeth will also conceive a son. Moreover, the Angel gives Mary no reason to doubt any of this, when he reminds her; “With God, nothing is impossible” (vs. 37).

How does Mary react?

I like how the New Living Translation translates her response: “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to accept whatever He wants. May everything you have said come true” (vs. 38).
As Wright points out in our text (12), when faced with this possibility and not really sure all it involves, she responds “as a model of the human response to God’s unexpected vocation,” or calling: “Here I am . . . let it be as you said” (vs. 38).

What an incredible example of faith and steadfast trust in God, no matter what He asks of us. May we do the same.

Luke 1:5-15: The Surprise of Zechariah

When I read this, I kind of feel sorry for Zechariah. Let’s face it, whom of us wouldn’t have had a moment or two of doubt, of hesitation? Mary is going to get all the accolades soon enough in the Luke narrative, but I find myself having a much closer affinity with Zechariah than her. Now don’t misunderstand, I am not dissing Mary, she, as the text will soon inform us, is an incredible model of faith and trust in God. She is certainly a model we should seek to follow. But I also think we can learn some good things from Zechariah as well. His problem is that he has a “curve buster” in his class.

Wright points out in the reading that “Luke is careful not to dress up the story by making Zechariah a great hero of the faith” (Wright 7). What I love about Zechariah is, that like so many people we all know in the church, and like many of us, he seems to be a regular guy, who is faithfully ministering and praying. And he does so without flash or distinction, or expecting some special reward from God. He is going about his business of working behind the scene for God, never complaining, never calling in at the last minute to say he can’t teach today, just doing what he was asked to do.

And like us (me), when God finally does answer his prayer, he is more surprised, maybe even doubtful (vs. 18), than expectant, awed, or grateful.

In the end, as Wright concludes, this story is about God more than anything else, and what is remarkable and what we should all take great encouragement from it, is that God does His work through ordinary, unflashy people, and sometimes even doubtful people, like Zechariah, and us (me). I think we can all take comfort and hope in this truth.

Blessings
Bill H

Grand Entries: Luke 1:1-4

Luke 1:1-4

I love walking into grand old buildings with magnificent entryways. Unfortunately, in our day and age, rarely are new buildings constructed with these type of features; and if they do have such a thing, it usually has a more of a utilitarian purpose over inspirational esthetics. Not so, in majestic and historic older churches and cathedrals.

The picture I have posted is of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC. It is an impressive building, and even if you’re not Catholic you cannot help but be awed by its inspiring and meticulous architecture. If you have ever been there, you know, that like many similar places, there is a notice to remind you to enter quietly and reverently—but really, you don’t need the sign, the building, and its entryway, have already told you that.

I had never thought of it in this way before, but when I reread Wright in preparing for this blog post—and it is also emphasized in the Luke Commentary—the first long opening sentence of Luke’s Gospel is sort of like one those old majestic Cathedral entryways. It is as if Luke is inviting us into a magnificent story; and indeed he is, into the life and events of this person Jesus—God’s own Son, the long awaited Messiah, our Savior, the one "you should have no hesitations to follow Theophilus." It reminds me again of just how significant this story, and moreover, this person, Jesus Christ—God’s Incarnate Son, truly is.

Indeed, in Luke 1:1-4, Wright tells us: “Luke opens his gospel with a long, formal sentence, like a huge stone entrance welcoming you impressively to a large building. Here, he is saying, is something solid, something you can trust” (Wright 1). Absolutely! This gospel deserves such an entryway, and I hope as we go through it—like I think Luke is, and Theophilus will be—we’re appropriately awed by its central figure and His life changing message.

Blessings
Bill Higley

Theophilus Instructions

One major component of our course will be administered through our course Blog which you are at if you are reading this.
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This blog is for our class members, and anyone else you would like to share it with (and I encourage you to do so and to seek their feedback and comments). In it, we will share information and insights we gain in our collaborative study of this fascinating Gospel account of the life of Jesus.

In verse 1:1, Theophilus is identified as the recipient of the Gospel from Luke. We, in a way, are modern day “Theophilus-types.” Like him, we are seeking to discern, interpret, and share with each other, and any who care to join us, the information Luke is giving. And in doing so, we desire to grow in our own commitment to know and live for Jesus Christ.

The main focus or our content will be your feedback and thoughts of application from the course text: "Luke for Everyone." While very informative, this book is essentially a devotion study of Luke, with a purpose of personal formation for the reader. It is on our course blog, where I want you to share your own spiritual grow and development, and seek to encourage others by it, as we study this Gospel together.

I will post the first three, and from there on out, I will provide a schedule so that each member of the class will post. For the first week, Andy will go Wednesday, Byron on Friday, and Jennie on Saturday. In the end, you will have about 5 that you will do. They will be delivered 6 days a week (Mon-Sat). You will send your article to me: I will do a final edit, format it, and then post it on the blog site.

In addition, each of you will be expected to leave two (2) "COMMENTS" to your class peers' posts as well. In order to do that, you'll need to set up a Blogger Name and Password. Do so, by clicking on the COMMENT link at the bottom of any post, and follow the instructions given there.

One big goal is for this blog to be something you can minister to the greater body of Christ through; so please, share it with friends and family, and invite them to leave a "comment" or two as well.

The Detailed Instructions are . . .

This blog and the posts you enter should be applicational , with an emphasis on personal spiritual formation . The nature of your posts can be as creative as you want. It could be an "ah ha" thing, a devotional thought, a challenge, an illustration of something you are learning in your Luke study, it could include a link to something that is appropriately related [another site, a You Tube video, an online message, a book you're suggesting, another online article or blog post, etc., etc.

The idea is: this a blog and it is our contribution to the rest of the world--literally--to help them learn from us important and relevant truth of spiritual formation that we are gleaming from our study of Luke's Gospel . Thus the important criteria: 1) Related to the content of Luke from the section we are in; preferably, the section assigned to you; 2) it is meaningful or relevant to spiritual formation; and 3) it is fresh and creative (be sure it is related to the content of the week). Moreover, this personal reflection should be with an aim of ministering to the others who will read it. And, I encourage you to respond to each others' posts as well.

More specific details are given on the course website under the link title: Course Blog-Theophilus

Blessings
Bill H

Welcome To Theophilus

Welcome, this is a test to see if our blog is up and running, if you're reading this, it is!

Class starts on Monday, October 27. Further intructions will be coming soon.

Blessings
Bill H