The
December Gospel of Luke Challenge
—Looking at Luke Look at Jesus
How much do you know about Jesus?—His infancy?—His life
and ministry?
Through the month of December, lets journey with Luke
through the life of Jesus. We typically focus on His birth during this season.
This time let’s also focus on why His birth is significant.
Connie Wohlford Photo |
As a physician, Luke was all about meticulous detail. His
Gospel corroborates with many aspects of the other Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and
John. It also tells about additional events of Jesus life, including His infancy.
Luke substantiates the accuracy of his work with four
explanations: 1- his concern with early origins—with priority given to
eyewitness accounts (Luke 1:2); 2- his
goal to be comprehensive—he says, “all things” (1:3);
3- his chronological telling, “an orderly account” (1:3); 4- his desire for accuracy—“the certainty”
(1:4).
“In achieving his purpose, Luke traces in his two volumes
(Luke and Acts) the Christian movement from its beginnings with Jesus of
Nazareth to its development into a worldwide fellowship transcending the limits
of Jewish nationality and embracing Jews and Gentiles impartially. Luke
presents Jesus not as a mere Jewish Messiah, but as a world Savior.” *
So I issue to you and to me the Gospel of Luke Challenge.
There are twenty four chapters in The Gospel of Luke.
The
challenge is this, each day between December 1 and December 24:
(1) Pray, thanking God for Jesus and His Word.
(2) Read a chapter each day. Chapter 1 will be read on
Dec. 1 Chapter 2 will be read on Dec. 2 and so on.
(3) Write in a journal or tablet specific highlights that
stand out to you in the day’s reading.
That’s it. Learn Jesus. Travel with me through Luke’s
account of the life and ministry of our Lord—our Savior, Messiah, King.
By the time we get to Christmas Eve, we will
wholeheartedly praise God with the angels and declare, “Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14)
We might even realize that this 10-15 minute block of
time each day was some of the best use of our very valuable time during the
Christmas season.
We might even want to repeat the process every year from now
on, working our way through the other Gospels as well.
As I have time, I'll
be posting some of my own journaling highlights as I travel through Luke’s
account. I (and others) would enjoy seeing some of your highlights recorded in
the comment section. And I’ll post maps and appropriate charts along the way
when I can.
Let the challenge begin!
©Copyright
2017 Connie Wohlford
*Spirit Filled Life Bible; Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1991;
Introduction to the Gospel of Luke, page 1503.