Luke Part 1 Week 9

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 2:13-14 

¹³ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 

The shepherds had announced that a baby had been born in Bethlehem. Suddenly the “armies of heaven” joined them in praising God. Verse 14 has been misunderstood by some. There are some translations that refer to peace on earth and good will toward men. In Isaiah 48:22, however, God says there is no peace for the wicked. Only those who have a relationship with Jesus will have peace. The Bible version used here states it well, “peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 

REFLECT 

Do you have peace about your eternal salvation? If not, you can have it by trusting in Jesus who died to pay for your sin. 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in praising God for what He has done for you as well as the country in which you live. Some things may be bad, but remember, nothing can occur without the sovereign God allowing it. Take time to read the first two chapters of the book of Job. There you will see that Satan could go no further than what God allowed. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 2:15-16 

¹⁵ When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” ¹⁶ They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 

The shepherds were fully persuaded of the message of the angel and confirmed by the praise of the heavenly host. They exclaimed, “Let’s go to Bethlehem!” They wanted to see what the Lord had told them about. Notice they believed this message was coming from the Lord. Hurrying to the village they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 

REFLECT 

Think how excited the shepherds were to find everything just as the angel had announced. Are you excited when you see God at work in your life or in the lives of others? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in praying for children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. If you know of some not following Jesus, pray that God will change their hearts just as He did the heart of Saul of Tarsus. Read Acts 9:1-19. If God could change Saul’s (also known as Paul) heart, He can change anyone’s heart.  

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 2:17-18 

¹⁷ After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. ¹⁸ All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 

After seeing baby Jesus, the “shepherds told everyone what had happened.” One can be sure they told every detail about the angel’s announcement, the armies of heaven praising God, and seeing the baby with Mary and Joseph. The result was their listeners were amazed at their story.  

REFLECT 

Men, especially shepherds, are not usually occupied with thinking about babies. What caused the shepherds to think differently now? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about how God used the personality of the writers even though the record was inspired by Him. David wrote like a shepherd as in Psalm 23. John wrote like a fisherman in John 21:6; Luke wrote like a medical doctor as he gave more details about the birth of Jesus seen in Luke 2.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 2:19-20 

¹⁹ but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. ²⁰ The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. 

Others were marveling at what was occurring, but “Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” The shepherds returned to their normal activity as likely did many others. They probably told others what they had seen. Mary, however, had much to be thinking about in the quiet privacy of her heart.  

REFLECT 

Have you had something occur that caused you to keep thinking about it rather than talking to others about it? 

RESPOND 

That Mary kept thinking about what was in her heart reminds people today of the need to meditate on the Scriptures and what to think about. In this regard read Joshua 1:8; Psalm 48:9; Philippians 4:8. 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 2:21-22 

²¹ Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. ²² Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 

Jesus was born during the time the Mosaic law was in effect so He was circumcised on the eighth day (see Genesis 17:9-14). This was the occasion of His parents presenting Him to the Lord at Jerusalem. This was also the time the baby’s name was made known. Jesus’ Hebrew name was Yeshua similar to Joshua’s name that meant “Jehovah is salvation.” Jesus’ Greek name was Iēsous that means “Savior” and He was called “the Messiah” (See Matthew 1:16).  

REFLECT 

How was your name given to you? Who picked it out? Do you know its meaning? Are you living up to its meaning? 

RESPOND 

Philippians 2:5-11 presents Jesus as the example to His followers. Notice that someday even unbelievers will bow their knees to Him. One either accepts and worships Him now or will bow in subjection to Him later. And someday everyone will declare that He is Lord.