{"id":2247,"date":"2021-04-08T18:30:47","date_gmt":"2021-04-09T01:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/?p=2247"},"modified":"2021-04-03T23:54:11","modified_gmt":"2021-04-04T06:54:11","slug":"abiding-in-the-lord-luke-ch-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/blog\/abiding-in-the-lord-luke-ch-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Abiding in the Lord: Luke Ch. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\n

Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!<\/strong>) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and\/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!<\/p>\n

Scripture Reading: Luke Ch. 1 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(vv. 1-4)\u00a0<\/span>Unlike\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>other three\u00a0<\/span>G<\/span>ospels,\u00a0<\/span>the author\u00a0<\/span>Luke<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>present<\/span>ed his gospel account\u00a0<\/span>in the form of a letter<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Luke<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is a Gentile\u00a0<\/span>(the on<\/span>l<\/span>y\u00a0<\/span>non-Jew<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>writer in the Bible<\/span>)\u00a0<\/span>and he w<\/span>orked as a physician\u00a0<\/span>(Colossians 4:14).\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>t\u00a0<\/span>is traditionally believed\u00a0<\/span>that the\u00a0<\/span>former\u00a0<\/span>book<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>referred to in Acts 1:1,\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/b>In the first book,\u00a0<\/span><\/b>O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach…\u201d<\/span><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span><\/b>is the Gospel of Luke.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In\u00a0<\/span>the Gospel of Luke<\/span>, v<\/span>erses\u00a0<\/span>1<\/span>\u00a0through 4 describe\u00a0<\/span>the author\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>intent of\u00a0<\/span>writing this letter<\/span>\u00a0and how\u00a0<\/span>Luke himself\u00a0<\/span>had carefully investigated everything in detail to write an orderly account so that Theophilus, the recipient of\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>letter, may know the certain<\/span>t<\/span>y of the things he has learned. It\u00a0<\/span>can be\u00a0<\/span>inferred\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span>\u00a0Theophilus may\u00a0<\/span>have\u00a0<\/span>had\u00a0<\/span>a basic understanding of\u00a0<\/span>the gospel<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>have already\u00a0<\/span>been\u00a0<\/span>pursuing\u00a0<\/span>the truth.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Once again, let us read through the account of Luke and review\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>G<\/span>ospel of Jesus\u00a0<\/span>with a humble and respectful heart.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(vv. 5-80)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke describe in great detail the<\/span>\u00a0background<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>history\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>the birth<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0of John the Baptist\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>Jesus.\u00a0<\/span>After an analysis of the overall content in\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0passage,\u00a0<\/span>some verses\u00a0<\/span>were\u00a0<\/span>found to be\u00a0<\/span>symmetrical<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
John Baptist<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nNotes<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nJesus<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Luk<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a01:5-25<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nThe angel Gabriel<\/span>, the messenger<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nLuke 1:26-38<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Luke 1:29-56<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Elizabeth\u2019s praise)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

Greetings of the two pregnant\u00a0<\/span>mothers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(vv.1:42-45)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nLuke 1:46-55<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Mary\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>p<\/span>raise)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Luke 1:57-66<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nBirth, circumcision, nam<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nLuke 2:1-21<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Luke 2:13-14<\/span>\u00a0(angel<\/span>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0prais<\/span>e<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Luke 1:67-80<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Zechariah\u2019s praise)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

After the birth of\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>child<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nLuke 2:22-40<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0(<\/span>Simeon\u2019s praise<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Luke 1:81<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nGrowth of\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0child<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nLuke 2:41-52\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Gabriel, the angel\u00a0<\/span>who<\/span>\u00a0\u201cstand<\/span>\u00a0in the presence of God<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>appear<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0to Zachariah (<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>1:5-25) and Mar<\/span>y<\/span>\u00a0(<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>1:26-38), respectively<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>fore<\/span>telling\u00a0<\/span>the message<\/span>s regarding the birth<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of John the Baptist\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>s well as the birth of\u00a0<\/span>Jesus.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First, let us dive into the story\u00a0<\/span>of a priest named Zechariah.\u00a0<\/span>One day he entered the temple of the Lord to serve before God and burn incense.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord who told him that his prayer\u00a0<\/span>was\u00a0<\/span>heard and that h<\/span>e w<\/span>ould be\u00a0<\/span>given a son.\u00a0<\/span>However,<\/span>\u00a0Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were\u00a0<\/span>both\u00a0<\/span>advanced in years and they had no child<\/span>. While not knowing how long this couple had been praying about this, their prayer was finally heard by God and they will be blessed with a son who shall be named \u201cJohn\u201d according to the message of the angel.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zechariah<\/span>\u00a0could not believe this unexpected message.\u00a0<\/span>Zechariah said to the angel,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cHow shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Hearing\u00a0<\/span>his response,\u00a0<\/span>the angel answered him,\u00a0<\/span>\u201c\u2026you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not\u00a0<\/span><\/b>believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Zechariah<\/span>\u00a0was speechless from that time until John was born. After the birth of\u00a0<\/span>John<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>Zechariah\u2019s song of praising God was reco<\/span>r<\/span>ded in verses<\/span>\u00a068-75<\/span>, which contained the\u00a0<\/span>prophecy of\u00a0<\/span>the birth of Jesus, the Messiah<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After that,\u00a0<\/span>the angel\u00a0<\/span>of the Lord came to\u00a0<\/span>Mary\u00a0<\/span>with an even more shocking message. Mary was a virgin<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>who was about to be engaged with\u00a0<\/span>Joseph<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>he angel came to her and said,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cGreetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>She\u00a0<\/span>tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.\u00a0 And the angel said to her<\/span>\u00a0that she will\u00a0<\/span>conceive in\u00a0<\/span>her\u00a0<\/span>womb\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>bear a son<\/span>\u00a0whose name shall be called J<\/span>esus<\/span>. The angel also said this child\u00a0<\/span>will be called the Son of the\u00a0<\/span>Most High<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>be given the\u00a0<\/span>throne of\u00a0<\/span>King\u00a0<\/span>David<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>his kingdom there will be no end.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then\u00a0<\/span>Mary<\/span>, being honest, asked\u00a0<\/span>the angel,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cHow will this be, since I am a virgin?\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>The<\/span>\u00a0angel\u00a0<\/span>said to her again with this explanation,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Most High<\/span><\/b>\u00a0will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy\u2014the Son of God.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0The angel informed her that her\u00a0<\/span>relative Elizabeth in her old age ha<\/span>d also<\/span>\u00a0conceived a son<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>And\u00a0<\/span>Mary said,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cBehold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Ma<\/span>ry even praised God, which\u00a0<\/span>has been known as Mary\u2019s S<\/span>ong of\u00a0<\/span>P<\/span>raise<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zachariah<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>a priest who\u00a0<\/span>served before<\/span>\u00a0God at the Temple of Jerusalem<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>When the angel of the Lord spoke to him, he\u00a0<\/span>could not\u00a0<\/span>believe\u00a0<\/span>that his\u00a0<\/span>long-standing prayer was about to be fulfille<\/span>d. Mary\u00a0<\/span>had been\u00a0<\/span>just an ordinary\u00a0<\/span>woman<\/span>\u00a0waiting for her marriage. T<\/span>he<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>angel\u00a0<\/span>appeared to\u00a0<\/span>Mary\u00a0<\/span>with a message that could<\/span>\u00a0potentially<\/span>\u00a0make her\u00a0<\/span>subject to suspicion,<\/span>\u00a0doubt,\u00a0<\/span>or ridicule. However, she responded<\/span>\u00a0with praise letting\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s word be fulfilled<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

N<\/span>o matter\u00a0<\/span>what\u00a0<\/span>kind of\u00a0<\/span>ministry you are serving at church, regardless of our\u00a0<\/span>roles and abilities,\u00a0<\/span>let us humble ourselves and\u00a0<\/span>learn from Mar<\/span>y<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>her\u00a0<\/span>obedience<\/span>\u00a0to God<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Let us\u00a0<\/span>come\u00a0<\/span>before\u00a0<\/span>God every day<\/span>\u00a0and remember\u00a0<\/span>His words in our hearts<\/span>. T<\/span>o\u00a0<\/span>c<\/span>onstantly reflect on God\u2019s words and\u00a0<\/span>obey<\/span>\u00a0His words willingly<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cFor nothing will be impossible with God.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>When God’s<\/span>\u00a0will\u00a0<\/span>be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>done to us in\u00a0<\/span>our lives, we\u00a0<\/span>will<\/span>\u00a0become one of the vessels of God’s work<\/span>\u00a0and we will b<\/span>ring all\u00a0<\/span>glory and praise to God!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pray<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: \u201cDear Lord, what\/where are you going to lead me to today?”)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding-in-the-lord","category-pastor-mickey-hsiao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2247"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2248,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2247\/revisions\/2248"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}