October 23 - Luke 1-3
Do you take God at His Word? Do you trust what He tells you and do it? I hope so. The first three chapters of Luke show us what happens when we don't take God at His Word and when we do. I believe many times we know God's Word, but we don't act on it. I believe sometimes we doubt His Word, even though we would never admit that we doubt it. However, the proof is in the results. Do we believe it enough to trust Him and act upon it?
In Luke 1 Zacharias is told by Gabriel that he and Elizabeth would have a special son in their old age. He does not believe the Word from the Lord, so he asks for proof. (1:18) This caused him to be mute for 9 months, until John, the Baptist, was born. However, when Gabriel appears to Mary, she accepts God's Word to her, and she only asks for a clarification of "how" this could be, not how she could "know" it. That was the difference between God's blessing and God's punishment. God is waiting to see if we will trust His Word to us.
In chapter 2 the shepherds have the same choice. Should they believe the Word from God or stay with their sheep? They go to find the baby. They trust God's Word, and they are blessed to see the Messiah. How often do we miss seeing Jesus or some new revelation, because we fail to trust God's Word? I think it happens a lot of times.
In chapter 3 there are the people who listen to John, repent of their sins, and they are baptized. Then, there are the Jewish leaders who come to observe, but they come as doubters. They are called snakes. They are failing to trust God's prophecy and to act upon God's Word, because they are trusting their own way. They missed God's blessings, rejected Jesus, and ended up in hell. Did they think they were right? Yes! However, it is always wrong to fail to listen to the Word of God. We might not understand it. That is alright. God is looking for faith or trust. As humans, we will never understand all of God and His ways, but all of us can choose to trust God and His Word. What about you? Will you resolve to take God at His Word? I hope we all will do that once and for all, as well as on a daily basis.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 4-6.
In Luke 1 Zacharias is told by Gabriel that he and Elizabeth would have a special son in their old age. He does not believe the Word from the Lord, so he asks for proof. (1:18) This caused him to be mute for 9 months, until John, the Baptist, was born. However, when Gabriel appears to Mary, she accepts God's Word to her, and she only asks for a clarification of "how" this could be, not how she could "know" it. That was the difference between God's blessing and God's punishment. God is waiting to see if we will trust His Word to us.
In chapter 2 the shepherds have the same choice. Should they believe the Word from God or stay with their sheep? They go to find the baby. They trust God's Word, and they are blessed to see the Messiah. How often do we miss seeing Jesus or some new revelation, because we fail to trust God's Word? I think it happens a lot of times.
In chapter 3 there are the people who listen to John, repent of their sins, and they are baptized. Then, there are the Jewish leaders who come to observe, but they come as doubters. They are called snakes. They are failing to trust God's prophecy and to act upon God's Word, because they are trusting their own way. They missed God's blessings, rejected Jesus, and ended up in hell. Did they think they were right? Yes! However, it is always wrong to fail to listen to the Word of God. We might not understand it. That is alright. God is looking for faith or trust. As humans, we will never understand all of God and His ways, but all of us can choose to trust God and His Word. What about you? Will you resolve to take God at His Word? I hope we all will do that once and for all, as well as on a daily basis.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Luke 4-6.