August 07 2024

Wednesday August 07

Good News for Dark Times

Luke 1:1-5

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. 

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Today, let me begin by again asking you to pray for our grandson Luke. He is being taken back into surgery this morning for shunt failure. Of course this is not good news.  Kimberly and Chris and our family are so thankful for your faithful prayers during this discouraging and difficult time.

The Gospel of Luke reminds us that God is always at work in this world whether we can see or feel it or not. We can never doubt God’s love when we read and believe His Word about His Son Jesus Christ. God Himself becomes a baby in a manger for the purpose of becoming flesh and blood so that He might suffer and bear the full punishment for our sins. Hebrews 2:14-15, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

Yesterday we talked about how God uses ordinary people to do extra ordinary things. Of all the writers of the New Testament, Luke is probably the least known. He is mentioned only three times by name in the New Testament. In this very first chapter of Luke we meet three other people, who for the most part, were also very ordinary people that God is going to use to do extra ordinary things. Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth, a very old couple. And also, a young virgin girl named Mary who lived in Nazareth, a very dark region of Israel.

If I could pick two verses that give us the heart beat of God and Luke for giving us this Gospel account of the life of Jesus they would be Luke 2:10 and Luke 19:10. The angel announced to the shepherds in Luke 2:10, “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.” And in Luke 19:10, Jesus Himself said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." The Gospel of Luke is a message of “good tidings of great joy” for everyone because we have a Savior who has come to seek and save us!!!

It was indeed a dark day for the nation of Israel. The people had heard no prophetic Word from God for 400 years, not since Malachi had promised the coming of Elijah (Mal. 4:5-6). The spiritual leaders were shackled by tradition and, in some instances, corruption; and their king, Herod the Great, was a tyrant. He had nine (some say ten) wives, one of whom he had executed for no apparent reason. But no matter how dark the day, God is at work behind the scenes and always has His devoted and obedient people that He has prepared to accomplish His purpose and will. Yes, ordinary people like you and me!

Zacharias, Elizabeth and Mary had no idea of how God was going to work through them to let a dark world know how much He cares and loves! In the midst of the darkness that might surround you today, remember God loves you, and He has a very special plan and purpose for your life, to be beacon of light to the people around you!

God bless!