Devotional: Gospel of Luke: Shalom 2 U, #19

By Shalom Jim

This is a daily devotional of the Gospel of Luke.  Each day we will read a couple of verses and meditate on them.  We will let the Holy Spirit reveal something about it and thank Jesus for what He has done.   We will then end with a prayer for the lost.   Just a minute or two a day.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shalom2U Ministries
• Release date: Jun 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227259615

Book preview

Day 1: We are Loved by God

Luke 1:1-4 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

Luke is one of many that have written about the birth and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was an eyewitness to all that has happened. He was anointed to write this Gospel and teach it to Theophilus.  The name, Theophilus means love of God. 

Dear Jesus! You came to reveal the love of God.  You came because God so loved the world.  The Gospel was also written for us because we are love of God.  We pray that this Good News of God's love will continue to be revealed to all mankind and receive with a believing heart.  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.  Shalom 2U in Jesus's name, Amen.

Day 2: Jesus Our Righteousness

Luke 1:5-7 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. ⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

They were both righteous by obeying all the commandments of the Lord.  Were they really obeying all the commandments of God? It is hard to believe.  I believe that they were declared righteous because they would offer the sacrificial lamb to God.  The Bible tells us that there is no one righteous, but we are declared righteous by faith in our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Dear Jesus! You deserve all the honor, praise  and glory for Your sacrifice for us.  We can only declare that we are righteous in You. Glory be to God! We pray for all those that are unrighteous to believe in You, our righteous Redeemer. .  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.  Shalom 2U in Jesus's name, Amen.

Day 3: Jehovah Remembers

Luke 1:13- But the angel said to him, "Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

An angel appears before Zacharias and tells him that his request (prayer) has been heard. The name Zacharias means:Jehovah remembers.  They are very old now, many years have passed.  In the fullness of time, their prayers are being answered. Jehovah remembered.

Dear Jesus!  You came in the fullness of time. You came to save us and answer our prayers.  For many of us, it's been a very long time.  It may be because we are being double minded, agreeing with You Word and then agreeing with what we see.  It could be, because the fullness of time isn't here yet.  Whatever the reason, we need Your grace to continue to believe.  Lord we believe, help our unbelief to believe.  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you. Shalom 2U in Jesus's name.

Day 4: Guard Your Tongue

Luke 1:18-20 Zacharias said to the angel, How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years. ¹⁹ The angel answered him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰ Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.

Now Zacharias has been praying to have a child.  An angel tells him that his prayers were answered. Now one would think that if an angel tells you that your prayers are being answered, you would believe.  Instead Zacharias makes excuses why it can't happen. The angel had to close his tongue so that he wouldn't speak against what God is going to do.  He was looking at the flesh instead of having faith in God in whom nothing is impossible.

Dear Jesus!  If only we could control our tongue.  We don't have angels coming to tell us that You heard our prayers.  You have given us something better.  Your Word tells us that all the promises of God are Yes and Amen.  All that we need to do is know, believe, and declare them. Your Word tells us that You have given us Your Shalom/Peace.  You ask us to give that Shalom/Peace to others.  We now declare: Shalom/Peace on earth and goodwill to all in Jesus's name, Amen

Day 5:According to Thy Word

Luke 1:34-38 Mary said to the angel, How can this be, seeing I am a virgin? ³⁵ The angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing spoken by God is impossible. ³⁸ Mary said, Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her.

Now we have a similar message given to Mary by an angel.  Mary doesn't act in unbelief.  She is wondering what the message is all about.  Unlike Zacharias,  she had not been praying for this specific thing to happen.  It has never happened and so how can it be? Once it was explained to her, she responded let it be done to me according to your word. 

Dear Jesus! Your mother was certainly a woman of faith.  She knew that God is all powerful, all mighty, and a Savior to all that believe.  We thank You for the words that You have given to us.  We believe that with God, nothing is impossible.  We declare Your Word over our families.  Deut. 30;6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul, that they may live. Glory be to God! Be it done according to Your Word, in Jesus's name, Amen.  Shalom

Day 6:Believe and be Bless

Luke 1:41-45  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² She called out with a loud voice and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!

There are a few things that one can speculate on. The baby jumped in Elizabeth's womb.  It's talking about John the Baptist.  It seems that he was filled with the Holy Spirit before birth.  The important part is what Elizabeth says : Blessed is she who believed. 

Dear Jesus! We are a part of the Christian Faith.  It's all about believing in what You have done for us, by Your sacrifice.  The more we believe, the more we are blessed. All these blessings are hard to understand and believe.  We pray for that grace to believe like Mary.  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.  Shalom 2U in Jesus's name, Amen.

Day 7: Receive the Good News and be Bless

Luke 1:46-50  Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord. ⁴⁷ My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, ⁴⁸ for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. ⁴⁹ For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name. ⁵⁰ His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.

The Blessed Mother Mary is giving a great testimony and goes on to prophesize about things to come.  She acknowledged that she is blessed and gives great praise, honor, and glory to the LORD.  Every Born Again Christians is blessed like the Blessed Mother.  We said yes to His amazing grace to save us.  Like the Blessed Mother, we should be telling everyone in the world of the great things that the LORD has done in our lives.

Dear Jesus!  You are so full of love that You came to bless the whole world.  Many have received the Good News and are blessed.  There are still many that haven't heard the really Good News.  We pray that the Holy Spirit will give us wisdom and boldness to share how You have blessed us.  You are worthy of all praise, honor, and glory.  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you. Shalom 2U in Jesus's name, Amen.

Day 8:Jehovah is a gracious giver

Luke 1:62-64 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called. ⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, His name is John. They all marveled. ⁶⁴ His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.

So now that God's Word was fulfilled,  Zacharias was able to speak.  God had to shout his mouth so that he wouldn't speak anything against God's Word.  It's interesting that God wanted the child to be named John.  God was sending a message. The name John means Jehovah is a gracious giver. Grace for short.  It would be John the Baptist, who would proclaim the coming of the Lord. Note: ‭‭John 1:17 For the law