Wednesday, November 29, 2017

The December Gospel of Luke Challenge —Looking at Luke Look at Jesus



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.

Sunday, November 5, 2017

The Lamb’s Blood -1 Peter 1:18-19



The Lamb’s Blood                         
           -1 Peter 1:18-19

In my last post we rejoiced in our redemption as being reclaimed by our Creator and made new, much like a craftsman uses reclaimed wood to create something new and beautiful (1 Peter 1:17-19).

Now let’s go into a little more depth as to how God brought this incredible miracle about. Peter explained, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (v. 19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV).

Peter implies that his readers knew that their redemption did not come from any material wealth, good conduct, or through any kind of tradition passed down from forefathers.

This apostle wants to make it clear that salvation comes through the precious blood of Jesus, stating that Jesus was the once for all sacrificial lamb. Jews of that era were knowledgeable of the significance of the shedding of the blood of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Even the Gentiles of the day were somewhat familiar with these Jewish practices.

About 1400 years prior to Peter’s writing God gave Moses instructions on the atonement of the sins of the people through the sacrificial shedding of the blood of an unblemished lamb. Step-by-step instructions are recorded in Leviticus 14.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11 NKJV). This shedding of the blood of lambs and other animals was a foreshadowing of the crucifixion death and shed blood of Jesus.

In several places, the Bible states that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. A sacrifice is defined as offering something of value for a cause or for a specified reason. Making an atonement is offering a compensation or penitence to make amends for an offense committed. 

Therefore the system set up by God in the Old Testament stated that those who offered and were covered by the blood sacrifice were released—set free—from the consequences of their sin. But this was only temporary and needed to be repeated periodically. 

Jesus was without sin—that is without spot or blemish. When His life’s blood was shed, He made atonement for all the sins of all Mankind once for all. His dying words proclaimed that fact: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Each person then has the option to accept or reject His sacrifice. 

The writer of Hebrews goes into detail to explain Jesus’ atoning sacrifice: “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of the creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For it the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. ... Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:11-15 ESV).

As we enter into this season of thanksgiving, let us be mindful of the sacrificial blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus—the Lamb that was slain on behalf of sinners like you and me. I’m thankful for and rejoice in many things—especially family, freedom, home, and such. But the number one thing I’m thankful for and rejoice in is the blood of Jesus which was shed for me. Because of His atoning sacrifice my sins are washed away. My debt to God has been canceled out; I am in His own family for all eternity; and my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. 

Besides that, my precious loved ones, who I’m so thankful for, also have the privilege of being in God’s family and we can all be together with Jesus in Heaven. All our tears will be wiped away. There ‘ell be no hurt, no sorrow, no evil of any kind. Like my friend used to sing, “There‘ll be no band-aides in Heaven—no emergency medical care ...”

So number one on my Thanksgiving list is Jesus and the fact that He gave Himself a sacrifice to pay my sin debt.

Are you covered by the blood of the Lamb? We each have the choice to accept and receive Him (Jesus) or reject and deny Him. 

Your comments are welcome.

©Copyright 2017 Connie Wohlford