Monday 2nd January - Luke 1

Today’s chapter is Luke 1, you can read it here

Tom writes:

Dr Luke would have known what careful was. He wants you to know how carefully he has thought about what he has written. He wants to convince you that in the midst of this oppressive and struggling world God has drawn close to accomplish things so tremendous that they make you want to sing Ave Maria. This is the bare-faced-cheek of the New Testament faith - that the angelic visitations and the miracles, the life interruptions and prophetic declarations are not just fleeting fancies from a fairy tale. God actually did this stuff back in history. God came to common people and invaded them with his mercy. The sun of righteousness really can rise over people like you and me. Jesus really does bring mercy and favour to undeserving people. So, let’s start this journey with a question; will you let him?

Zechariah nearly missed it, he silently assumed that his situation was one of those exceptions that God can’t change. It took a long stint of silence for God to turn Zechariah around. In that Zechariah mirrored the whole nation of Israel - God put them through 400 years of silence to help them learn to really trust in him. I think sometimes it can be in our silence where God can most awaken us to his plans. Sometimes the assumptions that most hamstring us and hem us in are hidden to us until the suffering of silence exposes them. Silence makes us yearn for the light of God to shine into our darkness. It makes us long for the invasion of God into the most barren parts of our lives. In silence we become ready for the rich and deep and wide salvation of our God, no matter how crazy it sounds. When God comes, he comes with tender mercy. He releases favour. He rewrites destinies. He made faithless Zechariah the father of John the baptist - the one Jesus called the greatest of all born men. What might he do for you?

Question for reflection:

Are there any areas of your life that you - like Zechariah - have assumed God’s goodness will not touch?

More resources are for you at www.anewtestamentjourney.net

Paperback version of the devotional available at https://amzn.eu/d/0tDbKny