Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 2 : 1-7, Isaiah 44:28 - 45:5 "IF YOU ABIDE IN MY WORD..." John 8:31"
Day 30 – Luke 2
Text: Luke 2 : 1-7, Isaiah 44:28 – 45:5
“IF YOU ABIDE IN MY WORD…” John 8:31
Did you count the number of times you read Luke 1, this past month? You did take the time to read the Bible Text before you read BWSJ, didn’t you? If you have faithfully read Luke1, you would have read it 29 times! You probably have never read the same text again and again so many times before in your life!
The words of the Lord Jesus come to mind as we reflect on this thought. The Lord Jesus spoke to the Jews who said that they “believed” in Him (John 8:31-32):-
“If you ABIDE in My Word, you are My Disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”
If you have worked very hard to read Luke 1 faithfully and prayerfully, then you have begun to learn what it means to abide in the Word of the Lord. If you press on in your determination to read God’s Word consistently, then you will indeed be a good Disciple of the Lord Jesus. You will indeed get to know Truth at a far deeper level. You will also see how the Word of God will impact your life powerfully! You will begin to experience the power of God’s Word in your life! You will see how the Word of Truth can free you from the power of sin!
THE HAND OF GOD IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE WORLD
Let us press on in our determination to read God’s Word. We begin our reading of Luke 2. We are going to take time to practise abiding in the Word of the Lord. Let us look forward to learning many deep and wonderful truths from the Word of God!
As we read Luke 2:1-5, the passage itself may not seem very interesting at all. How do we read such a passage with real interest? Here are some thoughts:-
1. Appreciate the Historicity of the Scriptures!
Luke mentioned Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1). He also mentioned one “Quirinius, who was governing Syria” (Luke 2:2). These names may not at first seem very significant, but take time to ponder over the historical significance of these two people mentioned!
Sometimes, people dismiss religion as something fanciful or mystical. Others dismiss religion as mere folklore. Still others think that religion is not real, but just some ideas put together by some priests!
However, the mention of historical personages would tell us that Christianity is founded on strong historical facts! Archaeological findings have confirmed that there was such a person as Quirinius, and he was twice the governor of Syria!
The story of how the census came to be taken is not fabricated. This record is a true, historical account! Let us rejoice that our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is founded not on religious theory, but on solid historical data!
2. Appreciate the Theology of God’s Hand Involved in the Affairs of Man
If we were to read Luke 2:1-5 in comparison with Isaiah 44:28-45:5, we will appreciate a wonderful truth. God is involved in the affairs of this world. More than that, God is in absolute control.
Isaiah prophesied that one day, God will raise up Cyrus, a Persian King (and he wasn’t even born yet!) to liberate captive Israel from being in bondage to Babylon.
Who says of Cyrus, ‘ He is My shepherd
And He shall perform all My pleasure (that is, “God’s will”)
Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built
And to the Temple, Your foundation shall be laid” ‘ Isaiah 44:28
“Thus says the Lord to His anointed (servant),
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held —
To subdue nations before him…
I have even called you by your name (Cyrus);
I have named you, though you have not known Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other…” Isaiah 45:1, 4-5
Cyrus did not know that God would raise him up to serve Him. He did not realize that God would raise him up as a king. He did not know that he would one day help Israel to rebuild their land and their Temple (Cf. Ezra and Nehemiah). How wonderful to know that God is truly Sovereign over the nations of the earth!
LET US RENEW OUR INTEREST AND OUR FAITH
Let us not grow weary in our reading of the Scriptures. Let us read the Word of God with deep interest! Let us rejoice that God is Sovereign. Let us rejoice that He is in absolute control of what seems like a chaotic world. There are times when we look at the world, and we are almost in despair.
If you were to exist in the days when Rome ruled the world, you would also probably groan and grumble about having to travel back to your hometown. For Joseph and Mary, this meant a journey of more than 70 miles to the little town of Bethlehem! Did the census ordered by Augustus Caesar make any sense to them? Probably not, and yet nevertheless, it was all part of God’s plan to bring about the fulfillment of His prophesied will!
God has a will and a plan that cannot be thwarted. His will cannot be violated. What seems to be sometimes “meaningless” will be seen as part of God’s perfect plan! Let us renew our faith in the Lord!