TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read: Luke 2:1-21
Listen: Luke 2
TODAY’S MESSAGE
The gospel of Luke is attributed to a traveling companion of Paul, Luke the physician. This account of Jesus’s life is actually part of a two-book set with Acts. The book of Luke tells the story of Jesus, and the book of Acts tells of the spread of the Jesus message. We might already be familiar with Luke’s recounting of the first Christmas morning.
Luke tells his readers why he wrote. He says, “I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning…to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:3-4). Early Jesus-followers lived in a world with competing philosophies and worldviews. The way of Jesus was a counter-cultural way of living. Luke writes to give them confidence that what they’ve been taught about Jesus is correct. If they can trust what they’ve heard, they can know Jesus is worth following.
While Christmas points us to Jesus, how it is celebrated points out other values in our culture. We hear that happiness is found in the stuff we have, we create better marriages with more expensive jewelry, we are entitled to our own way or doing nice things makes you ok with God. Luke’s gospel helps us have “certainty” that Jesus was really God. It gives us the confidence to live the Jesus way instead of following our culture.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Thank God for the four gospels and how they still apply to our lives today. Thank Jesus for being willing to suffer for us and calling us to a life of service. Thank Jesus for coming as the long-awaited Messiah who started a new kingdom and gives us the opportunity to extend it through our love for others. Thank Jesus for being life and offering us a full life. And thank Jesus that he was a real person, God in the flesh, who came to earth because of his great love for us.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is Revelation 17.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
