Luke

Reflection on Luke 2:8-20

/ newlifenarrabri / Leave a comment

Scripture

The angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “I bring good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Saviour- yes the Messiah, the Lord- has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David.”

Observation

An angel from the Lord appears to some shepherds minding their sheep near to Bethlehem. The angel tells them that the Messiah, the Saviour has been born. They will recognise Him when they see a baby lying in a manger.

A vast host of angels appears, praising God.

The shepherds decide to go and find out what is going on. They find Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger.

So the shepherds tell everyone they see about what has happened.

Application

Shepherds don’t get angelic visitations- unless they have been drinking too much! How odd that the first witnesses to the coming of the Lord should be people of such ill repute.

Imagine if the local drug dealers were the people to see the angels.

These shepherds must have been wondering themselves how they came to be in this position. A whole army of angels. A tiny baby in a manger. The Messiah! The Lord!

The rulers didn’t see it! The priests didn’t see it! The religious leaders failed to understand it!

It was the shepherds who saw this thing.

This is encouraging for all of us. We don’t get overlooked by God because we don’t fit the picture of people’s expectations.

Any one of us can receive a revelation that will win nations to Christ.

It could be me.

It could be today.

Prayer

Almighty God, you reveal yourself to shepherds and princes alike. Please help me to see you and to know your presence. Amen.

Reflection on Luke 2:1-7

/ newlifenarrabri / Leave a comment

Scripture

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first-born child, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no lodging available for them.

Observation

The Roman Emperor Augustus decrees that a census must be taken across the Empire. Everyone must go back to their ancestral town to be registered. Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem, the city of David.

While they are there, Mary’s baby is born. She wraps him in strips of cloth and lays him in a manger.

Application

God’s plans never pan out as we might expect them to. Even a theological degree is no guarantee of insight into the ways of the Lord. The scribes and all the learned men of Israel knew the prophecies about the Messiah, but even they missed Him.

Jesus, the Son of God, becomes flesh and He establishes His Kingdom in the world. This Kingdom is nothing like the kingdoms and empires of this world.

There is a hint of this in the fact that His birthplace seems to be dictated by the whims of the Emperor. In this first power play between Jesus and the world, it seems that the world is stronger- until you remember the ancient prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Mary and Joseph did the parenting thing as parents have done for millennia. It is all so humble and ordinary.

How could this baby in a manger possibly be the Son of God who defeats all the kingdoms of the world and even the power of evil?

Prayer

Lord, you chose to come to us in weakness and humility, as a child. The all-powerful God comes in such a tiny package. Holy Spirit, please help me to understand the mystery of Christmas. Amen.

Reflection on Luke 12:32-40

/ newlifenarrabri / Leave a comment

Scripture

“For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”

Observation

Our Father is pleased to give us the kingdom. For this reason, we must build our treasure in heaven, not on earth. Our hearts will follow our treasure.

We must always be ready to serve Jesus. He may come to us at any time. If He finds us ready, He will serve us.

Application

Christians are caught in between two times: the ”already” and the “not yet.” Our focus must always be on Jesus and His kingdom, while not neglecting our responsibilities in this life,

This applies to the issue of money and our possessions more generally. Because we serve a good God, we do not have to put all of our trust in our ability to provide for ourselves. If we dedicate ourselves to serving God’s kingdom, we can be sure that God will provide all that we need.

We often assume that people will give to something that they are interested in. This is true to a point, but the reverse is more true. Our hearts will follow what we invest money in.

Over time I have purchased shares in a number of companies. I don’t obsess over the stock market at all, but mt interest is piqued when “my” companies are mentioned in news reports.

Jesus tells us that the best way to build our love for His kingdom is to invest everything we have in it. We have a stake in the business of God, and so we will want to see it build up; we may even work harder, giving more of ourselves to the work of the Lord.

Followers of Jesus are not permitted to do what they wish. Our efforts , our time and energy, our possessions are all His to be used for His purposes.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to invest my time, my energy, and my money in your kingdom. Amen.