Luke 2

Luke 2 (NASB)

So I wonder why is it that sometimes those who see God's glory or angel would be fearful or frightened, like Zacharias (Lk 1:12) and the shepherds (Lk 2:9)? Is it because of sudden appearance that causes that reaction or is it because it is God showing up in our lives? Should we be afraid? If I truly believe God is love then why should I fear? Shouldn't I anticipate great things from Him when He shows up personally to me? Or do I push Him away and control my own way? Isn't it what I want is to walk with God? But if I believe that God is also just then am I ready to give my account of my life? One pastor once said in his sermon to encourage everyone to live each day as if it is judgment day.

It was a significant event when Jesus was born; God chose to reveal His birth to the shepherds in the field (v.9). Why shepherds? Also, these shepherds were not identified with names. If God chose them for this event they must be very important but why not identify who they were? But of all the people, the Roman officers and governors were identified with names (v.1-2)! It reminds me of many missionaries that were sent to bear the suffering for the gospels, some were well identified by generations of people but many were not known by their work and contribution to God's kingdom. Are these unknown people less important in the work of God then? No, not so. They were just as important in the eyes of God but they were used by God as a different instruments of His good news, just as you and I.

Faithful as they were, these shepherds once heard about what they were told, believed and go on their way, once seen with their own eyes they made known to others and glorifying God (v. 15-18, 20). It is almost like saying, once HEARD of the good news è BELIEVED è GO è WITNESS to others è GLORIFY GOD.

Jesus, being God himself, went through the life of a human form, growing and learning (v. 40, 46), subjecting to His parents (v.51) and the law of people (Matthew 17: 24-27), finding favor with God and men. He had been through and lived in our society… at this moment I feel that He knows me more than I thought… He knew clearly His purpose on earth (v.49), do I? How may I also increase in wisdom (v.40 and 52) as I grow older, by the grace of God…

Mary, woman of mind and heart, pondering (Lk 1:29, Lk 2:19) and treasured (Lk 2:19, 51) all these things that happened in her life. May we remember what God has done in our lives and may we love our God with all our hearts and our minds.

-cy

Luke 1

v. 37 - "For nothing will be impossible with God"
So often we like to think God having the same power as
us, when we think something is not achievable by human
capability we think God the same. We are very often
putting God in the box within our own set of mind who
God is and how He works and how much He can do. But
nothing is impossible with God.
- Zacharias and Sarah though old in human biology and
limited by physical possibility in our understanding,
especially after studying human anatomy and
physiology, but God made it happened and give them
John in their old age.
- And Mary, how can a virgin bear a son? That was
not how things were created in the beginning. Yet,
being the creator, what limit does He has in His
creation? For He so loved us that He made things
happened to bless us - Jesus was born through a
virgin. Another off scale in human biology. If I am
a researcher in human anatomy and physiology I think
this will throw me off the ceiling! I don't know how
I can analyze my data with these great outlier data
points!

As nothing will be impossible with God, so when we
pray, let us believe that it will happen. James says,
"But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for
the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven
and tossed by the wind." (James 1:6) Though this
referring to asking for wisdom, but if we asked
according to the righteousness of God, know that He
will answer them. "Until now you have ask for nothing
in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy
may be made full." (John 16:24) - Assurance of
Answered Prayer. God heard Zacharias' petition (v.
13), though it was not mentioned when he made that
petition, maybe 10, 20, 30 or more years ago, but God
surely answered it, in His timing, to show His
majestic impossibility! :-)

Mary, a faithful servant of God, believe and obey what
she was told (v. 38 and 45). What an obedient heart!
This reminds me of many stories of missionaries, they
go simply with an obedient heart! What about us?
Where is our heart?

Notice also v. 13 and 30 and also in Lk 2:10 - "Do not
be afraid..." - that is how God speak to us before
revealing to us what He is about to do in our lives
because He knows exactly how to prepare our hearts.
He knows...

Questions - there are seemingly 2 types of questions
in this chapter, one asked by Zacharias (v. 18) and
the other by Mary (v. 34) and notice how they were
being answered. Doubts and true genuine is my
personal take. When Zacharias asked, he asked in
doubting manner, did he doubt himself or did he doubt
God? But Mary, asked in a sincere manner wanting to
know and she was given an answer. God did not say do
not question me of what I do, but ask with a heart
that wanting to learn and know. So check our heart
when we ask question.
Also let us hear and listen when someone ask us a
question, before we make our decision how to react
and to answer. Let us not misunderstood genuine
learning question from challenging/questioning of our
authority.

1. Dream big for God for nothing will be impossible
with God!
2. Ask according to His righteousness and believe it
will be answered, in His timing.
3. Believe and be obedient.

This is taking way much more to type this up than I
anticipated. Time out for now. - cy