Tag Archives: the book of Luke

January 28
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“‘Why are you sleeping?” he asked them.  ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.'”  (Luke 22: 46, NIV)
 
The most compelling temptation is not the urge to do something that is wrong, but it is the urge to do something that is good but falls far short of excellent.  It is the urge to settle for the near-term tactical advantage at the expense of the strategic victory.
Sleeping is not a bad thing.  It is while we sleep that our bodies repair, refresh and regenerate.  However, in today’s scripture verse, something was happening that called for a response from the disciples that sleeping could never deliver.
To choose to pray is to aspire to see the world as God sees the world.  In prayer, we avoid temptations to settle for anything less than God’s will in the challenges we confront each day.  – Luther
Tagged , , ,
December 26
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”  (Luke 2:52, NASB)

Bethlehem, the manger, the heavenly host, the visit of the wise men, and all of the other wondrous features of our Lord’s arrival were a great beginning; but it didn’t end there.  The baby Jesus became the boy Jesus, who became the adolescent Jesus, who became the fully-grown man.

In our lives, there are many wondrous beginnings: The birth of a child; a wedding; a new lease on life after a serious illness; a new day.  It is only the first step.  Advancing through each step that follows is as expected as night following day.

We grow in stature because we take nourishment over time.  We grow in wisdom by the same principle, but instead of food, it is obedience to the word of God that increases wisdom and divine favor.  – Luther

Tagged , ,
December 25
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

Christmas Day

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”  (Luke 2:13-14, NIV)

Christ is God’s gift to us.

Of all days set aside for the giving of gifts: Birthdays, weddings, graduations, just to name a few occasions where gifts are given; Christmas is the king of gift-giving days.  Yet, many gifts presented today will be put-up or put-away because the season is not right for the gift’s use; other gifts will be returned because the gift isn’t the right color or size.

Sad to say, we have the same choices about God’s gift to us.  We receive God’s gift gladly, but determine that it is not the right season for the gift.  (Maybe when we’re older, or “more ready,” we reason.)  Others of us will exchange the time that getting to know Christ requires for other pursuits and past times.

As today presents opportunities to reflect on Christ, the gift God gives to us; consider the ways His gift — through you — can glorify God in the highest heaven; and promote peace on this earth.  Only God’s gift provides us His help for this life; and an enduring hope for the life to come.

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”  (2 Corinthians 9:15, KJV) Merry Christmas!  – Luther

Tagged ,
← Older posts
Newer posts →