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God With Us

1/29/2021

"Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28 New Living Translation)

Do you ever get the feeling that you are all alone, that God has forgotten about you our abandoned you? We may wonder away from God, but He is always with us. God is with us when things are going great, when our lives feel like a total mess, and in all the days in between.

Gabriel told Mary, "The Lord is with you." God gave this promise in Isaiah 7:14, "The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)."

God was with Mary before Jesus was conceived. God was with Mary after Jesus' death and resurrection and all the days in between.

Regardless of what kind of day you may have today, hold onto the promise that God is with you. Nothing can separate us from God's love for us in Jesus Christ. God loves us. God is with us. "If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" (Romans 8:31 NLT)

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What About Mary?

1/28/2021

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"In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David." (Luke 1:26-27 New Living Translation)

A lot of assumptions and speculations have been made about Mary over time. The truth is we don't know a whole lot about her other than her character and faith.

Luke sets the appearance of Gabriel at a specific time, six months into Elizabeth's pregnancy. Mary lived in Nazareth, a village in Galilee. Most of the Galileans were working class people with little formal education. So the elite in Jerusalem looked down on them as "second class" people who talked with an accent.

Mary was a virgin when Gabriel visited her, when Joseph married her, and when Jesus was born. The Gospels don't say that Mary remained a virgin for the rest of her life. They do tell us that Jesus had brothers and sisters.

Luke doesn't tell us a lot about Joseph either, other than he was engaged to Mary and was a descendant of King David. Mary and Joseph were not living together. Since Joseph would be considered Jesus' legal father, it was important that Joseph was a descendant of David because God promised David that the Savior would come from his family tree.

Mary and Joseph were ordinary people who believed in and followed the Lord. God works with, in, and through ordinary people of faith. He will never set us up for failure by ask us to do something without giving us the help we need. We might be surprised by what happens when we say "Yes!" to the Lord. He does amazing things through ordinary people.

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The Impossible Happens

1/27/2021

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21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” (Luke 1:21-25 New Living Translation)

It is too easy to limit ourselves to the things we can see, not trusting in the things we can't see. We pray for miracles but don't expect them to happen. We ask God to help us but don't count on it. That was what happened with Zechariah. He prayed for a child, but didn't expect God to answer his prayer. But God did.

Zechariah walked out of the temple after seeing the angel Gabriel and was silent. God had taken his voice away. When Zechariah got home, God answered his prayer and Elizabeth conceived a son. God makes the impossible happen.

It is easy for us to ask for God's help and healing during this time of the Covid pandemic and political change in our nation. I wonder, are we like Zechariah, asking for God's help but not really expecting an answer. God's ways are not our ways. We may have to wait to see how God is working in our world, our nation, our state and our lives today. Elizabeth and Zechariah had to wait, too.

God blessed Elizabeth with a child and silenced Zechariah for his failure to believe. God makes the impossible happen. The big question is do we believe and are blessed or do we let doubts and fears control our thoughts that keep us from praising the Lord?

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No Way!

1/26/2021

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Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” (Luke 1:19-20 New Living Bible)

Today's posting is a little later than normal because I was at St. Michael's School doing opening devotions for Lutheran School Week and staying around for the start of Neon Day. I still have my Neon shirt on.

One of the worst things you can do to a preacher is tell him he has to be quiet. My wife Joan tells me that I am not a quiet person and she is right. The Angel Gabriel told Zechariah that he would not be able to speak for nine months, until his son would be born, because Zechariah did not believe God's promise. No Way! That had to be really hard. Zechariah had a lot of time to think about God's promise.

There are times when we need to be quiet and let the Lord speak to us. God tells us in Psalm 46:10 to be still, be quiet and know that He is God. One of the most important lessons I have learned is to make time every day to be quiet and listen to God as He speaks to me through His Word. That may be the only time during the day that I am quiet.

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A Sure Thing

1/25/2021

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Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” (Luke 1:18)

Legalized sport betting came to Michigan on Friday. I wonder how much money people have already lost betting on a "sure thing?"

How many times are we like Zechariah? We want to know that something is really going to happen before we commit to it or put our hopes in it. Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed to have a child for years. God heard and was answering their prayers. Even though Zechariah had prayed, did he really think God would answer his prayers?

Can we be like that, pray repeatedly for God to act but never expect anything to happen? When things don't work out the way we want them too, do we can get discouraged and give up hope?

God does hear and answer our prayers. His answer may not be what we want or may not come when we want, but God answers prayer. Not knowing how or when God will answer can lead to doubt and fear. But God's perfect love overcomes our fears. Don't stop praying or putting your trust in God. After all, God did answer Zechariah's prayer. He will answer ours too. That is a sure thing.

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Great Changes

1/22/2021

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"You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” (Luke 1:14-17)

Some changes are good, others are not. God promised Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth would have a son who would change many things. The angel told Zechariah to call his son John. His birth would bring joy to his parents who had lived with the sadness of not being able to have a son for a long time.

John would be filled with the Holy Spirit and be the first true prophet sent by God in over 400 years. He would call people to walk with God and would help those who were full of themselves to recognize the wisdom of those who follow the Lord.

We need the same kind of changes today. We need joy in our nation, communities and families. We need to listen to the Lord as He speak to us through His Word. Our nation needs to turn back to God. Fathers need to be the spiritual heads of their families and show their children how to live in faith. We need to return to God's Wisdom instead of doing what we think is right, even when it goes against God's will.

John lead the people to repent, to turn from sin and return to God. God promises us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." This is the kind of change we need. This change begins with you and me when we repent and walk with God. This is the first step towards the right kind of change we need today.

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Do Not Be Afraid

1/21/2021

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"While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John." Luke 1:10-12

Why do angels, God's Messengers, have to tell people not to be afraid when they appear to them? If an angel of the Lord set down next to me at the kitchen table while I am trying to write this, I would be afraid. The angel would be unexpected. Angels are God's holy messengers. I am anything but holy. But because of the gift of faith I have in Jesus, I am a child of God.

Zechariah didn't expect an angel of the Lord to appear to him in the temple, so he was afraid. He wasn't ready to hear that God had heard, was answering his prayer, and he would become a father even when it seemed no longer possible.

Are we guilty of the same thing, praying but don't really expecting God to answer us, at least in the way we want. How many of are living in fear instead of by faith? God is in control. Nothing is impossible for Him. Listen to the angel of the Lord. "Do not be afraid. God has heard your prayer." That is what we need to hear and believe today.

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January 20th, 2021

1/20/2021

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"One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying." Luke 1:8-10

Zechariah was in temple burning incense. I'm glad we don't burn incense in our worship services. When I was in the seminary studying to become a Pastor, they tried to expose us to a variety of worship styles during chapel services. One week they brought incense down each of the aisle. I was sitting on the aisle and got a full blast of incense as it was swung in direction. My sinuses instantly were plugged up and I had trouble breathing for the rest of the service. Glad I didn't have to preach that day.

The Psalmist (141:2) wrote, "Accept my prayers as incense offered to you." So Zechariah was inside the temple praying for the nation and the people while a crowd of people were outside praying, too. This is a day we need to pray for our nation, our leaders and our people. The Apostle Paul tells us to pray for those in authority. He wrote that about the Roman Emperor and those who ruled under him. The Emperor was not exactly a friend of Christianity.

Joe Biden becomes the President of the United States today. He holds positions on a number of Moral Issues that I disagree with. I believe that human life begins at conception and that ever person is important to God. Jesus came to rescue us all from sin guilt and shame and to give us a new life. I believe that God created us male and female and God's plan for marriage is for one man and one woman. Whether or not you agree with President Biden or not, he needs our prayers. He needs God's wisdom. I'm praying that he will lead our nation well and that we can live in peace and freely practice our Christian faith.

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Real People. Real Time & Place

1/19/2021

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"When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old." Luke 1:5-7

It is easy to forget that the Bible tells us about the events in the lives of real people that took place during specific times and places. The Gospel of Luke is not a "Once Upon a Time" story or fiction about events that took place "A Long Time Ago in a Land Far Far Away." Today's reading is about real people, Zechariah and Elizabeth who lived in the land of Judah during the time of King Herod.

Herod ruled over Judea for the Roman Empire before the birth of Jesus, so that was in the last few decades before the Birth of Christ. (B.C. means Before Christ) Zechariah and Elizabeth were real people. They were too old to have children and lived with the disgrace back then of not having any children. But they continued to love, trust and serve the Lord.

When we face disappointments, when our lives are not working out the way we want, when the world around us is not what we want or hope for, we can still put our trust in the Lord because He always loves and cares for us. Since God was working things out for the good of His people when Herod had his reign of terror and the Roman Empire occupied Israel, He can certainly be working in our world, nation, state, and lives today.

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Getting Started

1/18/2021

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Luke 1:1-4 "Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught." (New Living Translation)

Luke was not one of Jesus' Disciples. He was not the first to write an account of Jesus' life and ministry. He was the Doctor who accompanied the Apostle Paul on mission trips. After spending so much time in Asia Minor, Greece and Europe, Luke's passion was for people who did not know Jesus. Luke investigated the life and ministry of Jesus before writing his Gospel account. So this is not a work of fiction or of Luke's imagination.

I think the Gospel of Luke is the best place for people who don't know Jesus or are new to the Christian faith to start reading because Luke wrote to a secular culture like ours. Luke explains things about the Old Testament and Judaism to the Gentiles (people who are not Jewish), explanations that are helpful in our secular culture too.

Luke's goal was to give us an accurate account so that we can know and believe the the truth about Jesus. We are getting started this morning on a journey through the Gospel of Luke to help us grow in our personal faith and to be able to talk with others about Jesus.

Thanks for the taking the time to read this. I hope this is helpful. The plan is to write this Monday through Friday mornings when possible. Welcome to my "Pastor's Blog" all of you Luke calls "Theophilus," people who love and are loved by God.

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My name is Larry. Right now I am serving as the Intentional Interim or Transitional Pastor at St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Richville, MI. This blog is part of my daily personal time reading the Bible and talking with God. It is more of my personal thoughts than a deep theological discussion. Thanks for taking the time to join me in reading and thinking about what God has to say to us today.

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