Our Saviour on a cross (Luke 23)

Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him”

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”
The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:
THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Our Saviour the servant (Luke 22)

But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will by no means believe. And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.”

These must come to pass (Luke 21)

And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.

These must come to pass.

In our country false prophets have mushroomed and are leading people to do the strangest of things bringing harm to themselves and all around them. It breaks my heart for people choose to ignore the truth; the good news; the gospel and choose to jump through all these hoops for the false promise of riches whilst rejecting what is freely available; the truth, the gospel, the good news.

These must come to pass.

I am sorry fellow gospel carriers and followers of our Lord Jesus this makes me very sad. My prayer today is that if you already know the Lord that you would endeavor to know the truth for yourself, that you will be moved to share that truth with those around you and encourage them also to know the truth for themselves. 

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.””

Our Saviour establishes His authority (Luke 20)

And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’
Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”

Beware of the Scribes
Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

This chapter starts with our Lord being questioned by the religious leaders of the time. 

It continues with the same leaders trying to trap our Lord in the questions they answer.

Our Lord answers by first quoting Psalm 118 and finishes with verses above exposing their duplicity and ignorance whilst at the same time establishing His authority.

A Saviour for the lost (Luke 19)

for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Our Lord is moved to defend Zacchaeus.

No one is not worthy of the gospel and salvation. In fact those feeling lost are the reason our Lord came.

Our Lord triumphantly enters Jerusalem on a donkey and the first thing He does is weeps for the future of Jerusalem.

 It is the same for the lives of the lost should they not receive the gospel and salvation that is our Saviour.

Our Saviour desires persistent and surrendered faith (Luke 18)

Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.

And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’

‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

In this chapter we are taught about the persistent widow;

the selfrighteous man and the repentant sinner;

to guard against materialism but the Lord can change the condition of any heart for  nothing is impossible with our Father;

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

Persistent and surrendered faith the Lord is looking faith.

Luke 17 (The Kingdom in us)

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’

For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Our Lord teaches us that we are to be different. The kingdom is in us.

We are also taught that we should have faith in the one we have faith in for the size of our faith is not what determines his actions.

We are also taught not take offence and to glorify the Father for the many things He does in our lives.

Our Saviour dares us to different (Luke 16)

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 

And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Our Lord and Saviour purchased us from this world and we can dare be different. 

This chapter focuses on money but we know many things in this world can become our masters.

Let us look up to our Lord and value what He values for what this world values will never be what He values.

A Saviour who wants you (Luke 15)

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

Our Father desires each and every single one of His children to repent and come to Him. 

Our Saviour in this chapter drives that home.

We are treasured and valued by our Father. 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.

Whosoever believes will not perish, they will have eternal life with Him.

Our Saviour worth the cost (Luke 14)

Now great multitudes went with Him.

And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Following our Lord only works when He is first in our lives, but when we do that our Lord deprives us of nothing we need in our lives. Just yesterday we learnt that putting His kingdom first adds all that we need in our lives. Again we are reminded put Him first.

In this chapter we are also taught about:

v  It is better to be humble

v  To be inclusive of the community we live in

v  In the Lord we will never be tasteless salt

A warning from Our Saviour (Luke 13)

Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’

An incredibly difficult chapter to read, for it is very harsh.

But when we read in light of the grace and salvation that is our Lord, it is a warning.

A warning that comes just at the right time.

If you happen to be reading this blog today and you do not know who the Lord is; salvation is available to you; you will not perish.

If you happen to read and you feel you are not bearing fruit grace is available to you; you will not be cut down.

Our Lord in His sacrifice on our behalf covers all, turn to Him and seek His assistance.  

  

Honour the Fatber (Luke 12)

“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Honour the Lord your God forget not the benefit.

“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

In this chapter we are also taught:

v not to be hypocrites

v to confess our faith and trust the Holy Spirit

v beware of covetousness, to be wise with what we have been entrusted with

v not to worry but to seek the Father’s kingdom

v to be always ready and discern the times we are living in

v to be peacemakers

Our Father loves and cares for us. He is moved by our plight and has given us these teachings through the parables that our Lord taught.

May we live our lives in reverent awe of such kindness and love.

Our Saviour builds (Luke 11)

But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armour in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

The power at work in us does not divide but makes us a family of strangers. 

A family of strangers with one goal that by the power in us have learnt to love one another. 

We do not come in race; social economic status or education; but by the Power of the Spirit at work in us and through us we come in the name of Jesus.

It is fervent prayer that we would keepers of the Word.

I was tempted to copy and paste verses 37-54 but I ask you to read and apply to our own journeys..

We often think of ourselves as better than the lawyers; the pharisees; and tax collectors but  the lessons aimed at them are our lessons too. 

Our Lord is always looking to build not to destroy. 

In whatever sphere of influence we find ourselves in let us always remember to build just as our Saviour did.

The Kingdom is near (Luke 10)

“The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves.

I the Lord who sends will provide for you, for I know what you need. Trust in me and I will direct you and will use you as I see fit in all the circumstances you find yourself.

The Son Reveals the Father
In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,

“I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to infants.

Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure. All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father.

No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him.”
Then turning to His disciples He said privately, “The eyes that see the things you see are blessed! For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see yet didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn’t hear them.”

We live in the information age where the Word is available in all different kinds of sources; and we are blessed too for the Son has revealed the Father to us too.

This chapter ends with the story of the good Samaritan and the sister Martha and Mary. Both are stories worth reading. What character does a Christ-Follower; a Gospel Carrier cultivate in their lives.

Take up your cross (Luke 9)

Take Up Your Cross

Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it.

What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself?

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and that of the Father and the holy angels.

I tell you the truth: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
“Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.”
But He told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.”
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.”
But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Who Is the Greatest?
Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them. But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, took a little child and had him stand next to Him. He told them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. For whoever is least among you — this one is great.”

This is a very long chapter I trust you will read for yourself.

It starts with the Commissioning the Twelve; then the feeding  5,000; Peter confesses that our Lord is the Saviour;

and the Lord predicts His death. These are just a few its 62 verses long but I encourage you to read it.

The portions of scripture I have selected for the blog I chose as an encouragement to us.

Yesterday we learnt about the Word or seed in our lives and today we learn of the character that seed will bear fruit in.

Let us follow our Lord and carry His gospel to all around us.

Our Saviour the seed (Luke 8)

“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root; who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

The Word is planted in all of us but what happens to it is up to us.

My prayer is that we would all bear fruit; that we all would not loose what we already have or know.

Our Saviour is patient; our Saviour will help; our Saviour is the seed.

Compassionate Saviour (Luke 7)

And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denari, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. 

Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”

Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, 

“Do you see this woman?

I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet,

but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.

You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.

But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Our Saviour Our Rock Lord of Sabbath (Luke 6)

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Our Lord again heals, does something not to be done on the Sabbath and this causes an uproar.

Pomp; tradition; ceremonies; agendas; status and even stature are of no consequence for our Saviour is Lord of the Sabbath. His command and instruction we obey; for every day is for His glory. Every day is for compassion and kindness;

I am reminded of the fruit of the Spirit as listed in Galatians.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Every single day after all is our Lord.

We are also taught a new character just as in Chapter3

v  The beatitudes (character pleasing to our Father)

v  Woe to self-satisfaction (how impressed are you with how impressive you are)

v  Love your enemies (learn to LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE ………..

v  Do not judge (satisfaction belongs to the Father)

A Saviour with good news (Luke 4)

But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’

For our lives to be victorious knowing what is written is essential. The written Word of our Lord.

And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,  Because He has anointed Me  To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,  To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;  To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

Today we close with our Lord proclaiming why He came. To be the bearer; or carrier of good news.

Please read and compare the two towns our Lord started preaching in after being tempted and their different responses.

Look how relentless our Lord is. May we just be as relentless for we also are carriers of good news for we belong to our Lord.

A Saviour for sinners (Luke 5 )

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.

This chapter starts with the call of the disciples and I am drawn to that for the Lord to act in our lives we have to submit, trust and respond to what He is saying.

We are also taught about our Saviour; a Saviour who came for sinners; who also forgives sins.

Our Lord confuses the religious leaders of the time. In this chapter He does something the religious leaders would consider beneath them; our Lord eats and dines with people they regarded as the worst of sinners. He then proclaims that He is the Saviour who came for sinners and the Saviour who forgives the sins of those sinners.

Aren’t we grateful that our Saviour came.

A Saviour who came for sinners; who also forgives sins.

Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

A different Saviour Proclaimed (Luke 3)

And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight. 

Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 

And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said,

“You are My beloved Son; 

in You I am well pleased.”

John, the Holy Spirit and the Father herald the Saviour for His presence makes a difference. 
All who listened to John realised that John was calling  them to a different way of doing things and living.

The people asked John what should they do differently (verses 7-14); 

If we were to ask that question today; the answers would be the same' live lives that reflect who you believe in. 
Emulate your different Saviour; 
don’t tick boxes but give, share, be fair and honest. 

.

Let us not make attending a Sunday service be the only reason people know we belong to our Lord.

Compassionate Saviour (Luke 1 & 2)

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David,

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

I have grouped these two chapters because Chapter1 foretells the birth of Jesus and John; and Chapter2 tells of their births.

We are introduced to a compassionate Saviour who brings salvation to the earth.

Witness of creation

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.
There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.
Their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a groom coming from the bridal chamber; it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

The instruction of the Lord is perfect,renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy,making the inexperienced wise.The precepts of the Lord are right,making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold — than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey, which comes from the honeycomb.
In addition, Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them.

Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me.
Then I will be innocent and cleansed from blatant rebellion.


May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Let all the other names fade away. 

I thought we would start this year by declaring how great our Father is.
Tomorrow we will continue learning and studying our Lord as we seek to know for ourselves so as to be better gospel carriers.