Tag Archives: Luke

God made Mary special (Luke 1:26-56), September 18, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 1:26-56

Set – Ezekiel 45; Luke 1

Go! – Ezekiel 45-46; Luke 1

Luke 1:26-56
26 Six months later in Nazareth, a city in the rural province of Galilee, the heavenly messenger Gabriel made another appearance. This time the messenger was sent by God 27 to meet with a virgin named Mary, who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David himself. 28 The messenger entered her home.
Messenger: Greetings! You are favored, and the Lord is with you! Among all women on the earth, you have been blessed.
29 The heavenly messenger’s words baffled Mary, and she wondered what type of greeting this was.
Messenger: 30 Mary, don’t be afraid. You have found favor with God. 31 Listen, you are going to become pregnant. You will have a son, and you must name Him “Savior,” or Jesus. 32 Jesus will become the greatest among men. He will be known as the Son of the Highest God. God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David, 33 and He will reign over the covenant family of Jacob forever.
Mary: 34 But I have never been with a man. How can this be possible?
Messenger: 35 The Holy Spirit will come upon you. The Most High will overshadow you. That’s why this holy child will be known, as not just your son, but also as the Son of God. 36 It sounds impossible, but listen—you know your relative Elizabeth has been unable to bear children and is now far too old to be a mother. Yet she has become pregnant, as God willed it. Yes, in three months, she will have a son. 37 So the impossible is possible with God.
Mary (deciding in her heart): 38 Here I am, the Lord’s humble servant. As you have said, let it be done to me.
And the heavenly messenger was gone. 39 Mary immediately got up and hurried to the hill country, in the province of Judah, 40-41 where her cousins Zacharias and Elizabeth lived. When Mary entered their home and greeted Elizabeth, who felt her baby leap in her womb, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth (shouting): 42 You are blessed, Mary, blessed among all women, and the child you bear is blessed! 43 And blessed I am as well, that the mother of my Lord has come to me! 44 As soon as I heard your voice greet me, my baby leaped for joy within me. 45 How fortunate you are, Mary, for you believed that what the Lord told you would be fulfilled.
46 Mary: My soul lifts up the Lord!
47 My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator!
48 For though I’m God’s humble servant,
God has noticed me.
Now and forever,
I will be considered blessed by all generations.
49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
holy is God’s name!
50 From generation to generation,
God’s lovingkindness endures
for those who revere Him.
51 God’s arm has accomplished mighty deeds.
The proud in mind and heart,
God has sent away in disarray.
52 The rulers from their high positions of power,
God has brought down low.
And those who were humble and lowly,
God has elevated with dignity.
53 The hungry—God has filled with fine food.
The rich—God has dismissed with nothing in their hands.
54 To Israel, God’s servant,
God has given help,
55 As promised to our ancestors,
remembering Abraham and his descendants in mercy forever.
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth in Judea for the next three months and then returned to her home in Galilee.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Have you ever wondered why I chose Mary to carry Jesus, the human side of the triune Godhead? What was so special about her that I would come to her to act as the earthly mother of My one and only Son? The answer comes from what doesn’t appear in these verses. Mary never asked, “Why me?” Despite the trouble that would come her way as an unwed mother in a society that would rather stone her than forgive her, she chose to trust Me and bear the Son of God.

What was special about Mary? She believed Me. She watched for the coming of the Messiah and knew that My promises were true. She lived the best she knew how to follow the path I had given for My people. She trusted Me with all her heart. Mary didn’t have special powers or abilities. She didn’t have some secret that others didn’t. You probably wouldn’t have recognized her or been able to point her out in a crowd. She was pretty ordinary… Except for her faith in Me.

Mary knew I could not and would not fail in My promises and when I sent My messenger to announce My intentions to her, she humbly accepted the task without question, only trust. That’s what was special about Mary. But can you trust Me? Yes. Can you accept the tasks I give you? Can you praise Me and give thanks for the situations you face? Yes. Trust Me. Believe in Me. Follow Me. I am the one that will make you special, just like I did with Mary.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Specializing in the little things (Luke 19:28-48), Jan 19, 2015

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Today’s Devotional

Today’s background scripture comes from Luke 19.
Many people know about what is commonly called Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into the city of Jerusalem the last week of His life. Many of those who think Him only a prophet think He acted according to scripture only because of His deep study of the scriptures. They don’t believe He was truly God incarnate. They don’t look at the details of the stories recorded about Him to understand He wasn’t just any man or any prophet.

Zechariah foretold the coming of the King 500 years earlier. He said He would come riding on a donkey, specifically on a colt, an unridden colt. Most today haven’t been around unridden animals, but it isn’t common to ride into town on an animal that’s never been ridden. Think a minute about the westerns you’ve seen. The horse that throws its rider is the nature of an unridden animal. As soon as the disciples tried to put the cloaks on its back, it would have tried to shake them off.

But not this one. Not in the presence of My Son. The colt acted like a well trained adult horse, not a brand new unridden donkey colt. The disciples put their cloaks on it to provide a makeshift saddle and Jesus rode it across the narrow paths of the steep hillsides into the gates of Jerusalem. No bucking, no resistance, no missteps. One of My creation carried My Son exactly as I told Zechariah it would 500 years earlier. Jesus knew where the colt would be. He knew its owners would release it without question. He knew it would return with the disciples without hindrance. He knew He could ride the untamed animal. He knew all of this, not because all of it was written in scripture. Only the fact He would ride into Jerusalem on a colt was foretold. The rest He knew because He was My Son, the God-Man.

Maybe it sounds like a little thing to you. I specialize in little things, like forming each individual snowflake that together add up to mountains of snow in the winter. Forming each raindrop around a speck of dust and letting it fall to earth to replenish the rivers that flow to the oceans. I paint each flower petal before folding it into the DNA of each seed that falls into the ground.

I specialize in the little things that become the incredible things. The prophecy seemed like a little thing to Zechariah 500 years before it happened. It seemed like a little thing when the disciples picked up the donkey from the owners the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem. It seemed like a little thing when He told His disciples He would not eat the Passover with them again. You see I specialize in little things and make them pretty incredible.

I can take things you might think are little and make them pretty incredible, too. In this one story of one event in Jesus’ life, a story that consumes only eight verse in Luke’s gospel, you see how small things mean a great deal to me. I specialize in the small things in life. Imagine what I can do with your life. In the small things and the big things that come your way.

Today’s Scripture

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 19:28-48
Set – Genesis 48; Luke 19
Go! – Genesis 47-48; Psalms 19; Luke 19

Luke 19:28-48
28 When He finished the parable, He pushed onward, climbing the steep hills toward Jerusalem.

29 He approached the towns of Bethphage and Bethany, which are near Mount Olivet. He sent two of the disciples ahead.

Jesus: 30 Go to the next village. When you enter, you will find a colt tied—a colt that has never been ridden before. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you why you’re untying it, just say, “The Lord needs it.”

32 So the two disciples found things just as He had told them. 33 When its owners did indeed ask why they were untying the colt, 34 the disciples answered as they had been instructed.

Disciples: The Lord needs it.

35 They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their coats on the colt’s back, and then sat Jesus on it. 36 As Jesus rode along, some people began to spread their garments on the road as a carpet. 37 When they passed the crest of Mount Olivet and began descending toward Jerusalem, a huge crowd of disciples began to celebrate and praise God with loud shouts, glorifying God for the mighty works they had witnessed.

Crowd of Disciples: 38 The King who comes in the name of the Eternal One is blessed!

Peace in heaven! Glory in the highest!

Pharisees (who were in the crowd): 39 Teacher, tell these people to stop making these wild claims and acting this way!

Jesus: 40 Listen—if they were silent, the very rocks would start to shout!

41 When Jerusalem came into view, He looked intently at the city and began to weep.

Jesus: 42 How I wish you knew today what would bring peace! But you can’t see. 43 Days will come when your enemies will build up a siege ramp, and you will be surrounded and contained on every side. 44 Your enemies will smash you into rubble and not leave one stone standing on another, and they will cut your children down too, because you did not recognize the day when God’s Anointed One visited you.

45 He entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. He began driving out the temple merchants.

Jesus: 46 The Hebrew Scriptures say, “My house shall be a house of prayer,” but you have turned it into a shelter for thieves.

47 He came back day after day to teach in the temple. The chief priests, the religious scholars, and the leading men of the city wanted to kill Him, 48 but because He was so popular among the people—who hung upon each word He spoke—they were unable to do anything.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Music by the Booth Brothers from Room for More, “Faithful One” ©2008.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Join my household (Luke 15:11-31), Jan 15, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Devotional

Today’s background scripture comes from Luke 15.

I want you to stay with Me and enjoy the life I can provide for you. But you have a choice. You can choose to leave Me and settle for the temporary pleasures of the world. Beware, though, those pleasures run out. They satisfy for a moment and then they’re gone. You’ll be left with nothing.

The young man in the parable I told was like that. He thought he could do better than second place on his father’s farm. So, he demanded his inheritance and left. I want you to note the sacrifice his father made for this second son. He liquidated his assets to give his son an early inheritance. The property and business he spent his life building, he gave up so he could satisfy the desires of his sons. The man willingly started over in his old age because he loved his sons.

I sent My son to you to show you a different way to live. He lived with you for more than 30 years and showed you how to live the way I want you to live. Things didn’t impress Him. He spoke with ease to the rich and the poor alike. He came to liberate men and women from the enslavement of things. He came to release you from the captivity the focus on material things can cause.

I know that money is important to help with the necessities of life, but the world has turned its importance upside down. It’s not something you need to hoard. It’s not something you need to worry about. I can give it or take it away. In fact, the gift of giving comes with the gift of accumulating so you can give abundantly. But if you’re tight-fisted with what comes, you will stifle My gift of giving to you.

More important than money is your reliance on Me. Like the son in the parable, you must discover the Father’s house is the place you want to live – My house. I, too, will embrace you with open arms. We will feast together. I will welcome you when you come in repentance to Me. I want you in my household, not as one of the servants, but as one of my children. Wake up from your most harrowing situation and turn to Me.

Today’s Scripture

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 15:11-31
Set – Psalms 7; Luke 15
Go! – Genesis 37-38; Psalms 7; Luke 15

Luke 15:11-31
Once there was this man who had two sons. 12 One day the younger son came to his father and said, “Father, eventually I’m going to inherit my share of your estate. Rather than waiting until you die, I want you to give me my share now.” And so the father liquidated assets and divided them. 13 A few days passed and this younger son gathered all his wealth and set off on a journey to a distant land. Once there he wasted everything he owned on wild living. 14He was broke, a terrible famine struck that land, and he felt desperately hungry and in need. 15 He got a job with one of the locals, who sent him into the fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man felt so miserably hungry that he wished he could eat the slop the pigs were eating. Nobody gave him anything.

17 So he had this moment of self-reflection: “What am I doing here? Back home, my father’s hired servants have plenty of food. Why am I here starving to death? 18 I’ll get up and return to my father, and I’ll say, ‘Father, I have done wrong—wrong against God and against you. 19 I have forfeited any right to be treated like your son, but I’m wondering if you’d treat me as one of your hired servants?’” 20 So he got up and returned to his father. The father looked off in the distance and saw the young man returning. He felt compassion for his son and ran out to him, enfolded him in an embrace, and kissed him.

21 The son said, “Father, I have done a terrible wrong in God’s sight and in your sight too. I have forfeited any right to be treated as your son.”

22 But the father turned to his servants and said, “Quick! Bring the best robe we have and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. 23 Go get the fattest calf and butcher it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate 24 because my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and has been found.” So they had this huge party.

25 Now the man’s older son was still out in the fields working. He came home at the end of the day and heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27 The servant said, “Your brother has returned, and your father has butchered the fattest calf to celebrate his safe return.”

28 The older brother got really angry and refused to come inside, so his father came out and pleaded with him to join the celebration. 29 But he argued back, “Listen, all these years I’ve worked hard for you. I’ve never disobeyed one of your orders. But how many times have you even given me a little goat to roast for a party with my friends? Not once! This is not fair! 30 So this son of yours comes, this wasteful delinquent who has spent your hard-earned wealth on loose women, and what do you do? You butcher the fattest calf from our herd!”

31 The father replied, “My son, you are always with me, and all I have is yours.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Music by the Booth Brothers from Room for More, “Faithful One” ©2008.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Love like hate (Luke 14:25-35), Jan 14, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Devotional

Today’s background scripture comes from Luke 14.
Many think there is no cost to following Me. It isn’t true. I don’t need your money. I don’t need your house. I don’t need any material possession you own. I need you. And I need you to understand I already own everything you have whether you think I do or not. At best, you are only a steward of the things on earth. Life is short whether you live a few days or a hundred years. When compared to eternity, your lifetime on earth is nothing.

So why spend that time chasing after things that don’t matter? My words sound harsh, you can’t be My disciple without hating your own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even your own life. And I will tell you, if you follow Me, you won’t hate them. But in comparison, your love for Me must be on such a higher plain than your love for them it will look like hatred to those that don’t understand. You will make choices for Me and act for Me and the world won’t get it. They will look at you the way they looked at Me.

I could have spared My earthly mother so much pain and suffering. But My love for the Father outdistanced My love for Mary so much I had to act on His behalf so I could act on her behalf. That’s the misunderstanding the world doesn’t get. Doing My will and My work means you will do good for them even when it doesn’t feel good for either of you. The world will say you lost your mind. The world will disown you. It may institutionalize you, incarcerate you, persecute you, even execute you. But following Me will be worth it all.

This life is so confused, so messed up by the sins around you, so given over to evil influences, so short. I have so much more in store for you. Open you hands. Turn your palms down. Now hang on to what you can hold in your hands. That’s what you should love of this world. Grab what lasts. Weigh the cost of serving Me. Understand what I gave to make your eternal life with Me possible. I gave everything for you. What I want in return is…you! Just you!

Today’s Scripture

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 14:25-35
Set – Genesis 35; Luke 14
Go! – Genesis 34-36; Luke 14

Luke 14:25-35

Great crowds joined Him [Jesus] on His journey, and He turned to them.

Jesus: 26 If any of you come to Me without hating your own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and yes, even your own life, you can’t be My disciple. 27 If you don’t carry your own cross as if to your own execution as you follow Me, you can’t be part of My movement. 28 Just imagine that you want to build a tower. Wouldn’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to be sure you have enough to finish what you start? 29 If you lay the foundation but then can’t afford to finish the tower, everyone will mock you: 30 “Look at that guy who started something that he couldn’t finish!”

31 Or imagine a king gearing up to go to war. Wouldn’t he begin by sitting down with his advisors to determine whether his 10,000 troops could defeat the opponent’s 20,000 troops? 32 If not, he’ll send a peace delegation quickly and negotiate a peace treaty. 33 In the same way, if you want to be My disciple, it will cost you everything. Don’t underestimate that cost!

34 Don’t be like salt that has lost its taste. How can its saltiness be restored? Flavorless salt is absolutely worthless. 35 You can’t even use it as fertilizer, so it’s worth less than manure! Don’t just listen to My words here. Get the deeper meaning.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Music by the Booth Brothers from Room for More, “Faithful One” ©2008.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.