Luke – Chapter 2

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. Luke 2:17-18 – A question I find myself dwelling on often is what will it take for people to believe in Jesus? On Sunday mornings we’ve been working through John and seeing the lack of belief within the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day. They witnessed so much, yet didn’t believe. In our chapter, take in what people in Jesus’ day had as testimony to Jesus Lordship. We had multitudes of angels declaring His identify and glory, then eyewitnesses to that sharing firsthand. We had righteous and devout Simeon, full of the Holy Spirit revealing what had been revealed to Him. Even Anna, a prophetess who for many decades lived at the temple worshiping and praying only, speaking of Jesus’ identity as the redemption of Israel. We’re not talking little hints by no-name people, we’re talking undeniable evidence. Yet, many did deny it, and many people still deny the truths about Jesus. Bringing us back to the question, what will it take for people to believe in Jesus? The answer is the Lord opening their heart to the truth. For if that hadn’t happened yet in their life, the stars could realign themselves spelling out “Jesus is Lord” and people still wouldn’t believe. God must begin that work in them for them to begin moving toward Him. So let’s pray a big prayer today, that God would move in every heart in our world so that they would accept His eternal life. For the evidence is clear, Jesus has come and Jesus is Lord. Let’s now pray that the Lord would do the work only He can do, and let’s get off our seats and do the work we’re called to do in pointing people to Christ. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3531

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:21 – I love how we see the working of God here that even before Jesus was conceived He was known and named. God knew the same for you. You are not a mistake or an accident. God was well aware that you were going to be a part of this story of His and He knows you better than you even know yourself. Today remind yourself that God has always loved you even before you were conceived and His love for you will never stop. You were meant to be here today. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 607

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. Luke 2:1 – We get the privilege of reading the story of Christ’s birth, a special and unique passage to read during Holy Week. We see from our verse that in the days surrounding the birth of Christ that the entire population of the Roman world was to be counted. Meaning many would have to uproot themselves for a season and possibly travel long distances. We know though all this was to fulfill the prophesy of Jesus being born in the city of David and to help give that assurance to all that this baby was the Messiah. Think though of all that were impacted by this census that God used to fulfill His word surrounding His Messiah. Thousands would have had to travel and leave their homes to be registered; and God used it to fulfill His prophesies. What we see here is that sometimes God will move in grand ways for a very specific purpose. He was establishing His Messiah, yet in order to do that the whole world at that time was to be involved. You too may find yourself in the wake of a grand move of God. Where God is uprooting people, moving mountains, or changing seasons. This process isn’t always quiet and isn’t without being felt by many. All this may be for a very specific, pointed reason God has. When He moves in these grand ways, when these intense changes take place, and we feel all the impact of these changes, we must grow to trust God in all this…especially when we aren’t the reason for the changes. Meaning may feel the massive wake of what God is doing in someone else’s life. Meaning we may have to walk through a lot of difficulty and change simply because God was moving on behalf of someone else. Know in those seasons God still sees you and sees the way you are being impacted. While He is working in their life, your life is still in His hands too. Even in the wake of God’s movements, you are still going to be well cared for by Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2319