Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022
This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.
Bible Readings: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-38
Background:
Every saga, whether book or movie, tends to have two key points. The first is the engagement, the moment the battle is joined, and then comes the crisis moment when everything hangs in the balance, when the battle is decided once and for all. In our story, we call those moments Christmas and Easter. Though all of this was purposed in eternity past, the battle was joined on Christmas day when Jesus was born and the light declared war on darkness which had overwhelmed and enslaved this world since the first pair chose sin. The war raged throughout Jesus' time on earth and climaxed at the Cross where Jesus won an utter and eternal victory over the enemy.
The familiar story of Jesus' early days continues in Luke 2 in today's readings. The dark night on Bethlehem's hills was shattered by the glory of an angel who announced the birth of a Savior to the shepherds. Immediately, a host from heaven joined him loudly praising God for the wonderful thing that had happened. Battle was joined and heaven's joy could not be contained.
The theme of our devotional - that God chooses the ordinary for his kingdom - is a key theme throughout Luke and is contrasted with the indifference of the rich and powerful. The announcement came to low-class shepherds, culture's outcasts, not to the priests or the business barons of Jerusalem, only a few miles away. While the Temple's intelligentsia ignored the baby, Simeon and Anna worshiped him.
The familiar story of Jesus' early days continues in Luke 2 in today's readings. The dark night on Bethlehem's hills was shattered by the glory of an angel who announced the birth of a Savior to the shepherds. Immediately, a host from heaven joined him loudly praising God for the wonderful thing that had happened. Battle was joined and heaven's joy could not be contained.
The theme of our devotional - that God chooses the ordinary for his kingdom - is a key theme throughout Luke and is contrasted with the indifference of the rich and powerful. The announcement came to low-class shepherds, culture's outcasts, not to the priests or the business barons of Jerusalem, only a few miles away. While the Temple's intelligentsia ignored the baby, Simeon and Anna worshiped him.
Daily Devotional: Ordinary People
Joseph was a stunningly handsome man who made all the girls in Nazareth swoon. Mary walked through the streets of the village with her halo shining brightly, giving light to all in the dark nights. Right? We have created massive fictional accounts of the lives of these two people that elevate them - no, we do more than that. We glorify them, even deify them. In some circles, Mary has been honored to the point in which she is viewed as spiritual superwoman, the saintliest of all saints.
When we do that we miss the whole point of the Christmas story, of the gospel story itself. God could have chosen the daughter of the high priest or of some rich, powerful person to be the mother of his Son. He did not. He chose a normal, average, peasant woman. She was no different than any other woman in Nazareth. Joseph was not voted most likely to succeed in high school and Mary was not Miss Congeniality at the county fair. They were normal. Average. Nobodies. Just like everyone else.
That is crucial to our story!
God is not a talent scout looking for the best and the brightest he can recruit for his kingdom. He's not looking for the cool kids he can invite to sit at his table. That's not how he works. He selects Mary and Joseph, not Brad and Angelina. God uses nobodies, average folks like you and me to accomplish his wonderful works.
When we deify Mary or elevate her to a status beyond what she was we miss the point. God does not need my talents, he simply needs me to be obedient and willing! He has all the power, creativity, and wisdom necessary to accomplish his purposes. He simply wants to glorify himself and use me in the process. I need only be a "living sacrifice" - ready, willing, and able.
Take comfort, my average, ordinary friend! We have an extraordinary God who does extraordinary things through ordinary folks who walk in obedience to him.
When we do that we miss the whole point of the Christmas story, of the gospel story itself. God could have chosen the daughter of the high priest or of some rich, powerful person to be the mother of his Son. He did not. He chose a normal, average, peasant woman. She was no different than any other woman in Nazareth. Joseph was not voted most likely to succeed in high school and Mary was not Miss Congeniality at the county fair. They were normal. Average. Nobodies. Just like everyone else.
That is crucial to our story!
God is not a talent scout looking for the best and the brightest he can recruit for his kingdom. He's not looking for the cool kids he can invite to sit at his table. That's not how he works. He selects Mary and Joseph, not Brad and Angelina. God uses nobodies, average folks like you and me to accomplish his wonderful works.
When we deify Mary or elevate her to a status beyond what she was we miss the point. God does not need my talents, he simply needs me to be obedient and willing! He has all the power, creativity, and wisdom necessary to accomplish his purposes. He simply wants to glorify himself and use me in the process. I need only be a "living sacrifice" - ready, willing, and able.
Take comfort, my average, ordinary friend! We have an extraordinary God who does extraordinary things through ordinary folks who walk in obedience to him.
Thank you, Lord, that kingdom success rests not on my talents or abilities, but on you! I give myself as a living sacrifice to obey you.
Consider God's Word:
Remember that these were real people, not superheroes in a fictional story. Joseph and Mary were peasants who had never seen anything out of the ordinary when God began to work this work in them. Consider how stunning God's call was - it required a total change in their lives.
Write down how Mary and Joseph's lives might have changed as a result of the work of God - both good and bad. Obedience brings both blessings and hardships. But serving God is always best.
Are there areas of your life in which you are struggling to trust God and to follow his will, his plan? Do you believe that God's will, as hard as it might be, is always best?
Write down how Mary and Joseph's lives might have changed as a result of the work of God - both good and bad. Obedience brings both blessings and hardships. But serving God is always best.
Are there areas of your life in which you are struggling to trust God and to follow his will, his plan? Do you believe that God's will, as hard as it might be, is always best?
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