Month: January 2024

Event 7: Jesus is Presented at the Temple

Our story today took place 40 days after Jesus was born. It was a part of the Law that each Hebrew baby boy had to be presented at the temple. Luke 2:22-38 tells us the story of the presentation of baby Jesus at the temple.

Let’s begin by summarizing them.

SUMMARY

When the time came for Mary and Joseph to complete the purification rites after Jesus’ birth, they brought him to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. There they encountered Simeon and Anna, two devout older people who had been waiting to see the Messiah. Simeon praised God, prophesying that Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles. Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to others who were awaiting Jerusalem’s redemption.

Our special observation for today revolves around the 84-year-old Anna. I call it:

Anna’s Life: Plan B.

Anna was once a young bride, married at a tender age. Her dreams were simple – to build a home and family with her beloved husband. But life had other plans. After just seven short years, Anna was made a widow, and her hopeful dreams suddenly shattered.  

Certainly, Anna struggled to imagine a new future. In those times, opportunities for women were scarce. But Anna found her calling in the temple, drawing daily comfort and purpose from her faith. As the decades passed, she became a fixture among the holy walls, revered for her devotion. 

On a fateful morning, more than 50 years later, Anna felt a long-awaited quickening in her spirit. A young couple, Mary and Joseph, had come to present their newborn son. One glimpse and Anna knew: this was the redemption her soul had thirsted for all these years. Overflowing with joy, she gave thanks to God and told all around that the Messiah had come at last. 

Anna never fulfilled her girlish dreams of family. But God had a greater plan, writing Anna into the sacred story of Jesus. Her long-nurtured hope was rewarded in ways she never could have dreamed of in her little village long ago. However life may redirect us, faith and purpose can blossom still.

We sometimes ask children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” What we’re really asking is, “What’s your first big plan for your life-your Plan A?” But, as many of us know, things don’t always go as planned. We might start with a ‘Plan A’, but often we end up following Plan B, Plan C, or Plan D.

The key to being happy in life is knowing when it’s time to switch to your next plan. This means being flexible and ready to change your plan when you need to.

Lonnie Davis

Tell me the story of Jesus

Here is a summary of what happened in Luke 2:8-20.

SUMMARY

Shepherds in Bethlehem’s fields are visited by an angel announcing Jesus’ birth as the Savior. Joined by a heavenly host praising God, the shepherds hurry to find Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a manger. Amazed, they spread the news, glorifying God for all they witnessed.

OBSERVATIONS

From this text, many things are evident. Here are four of my favorite observations.

1. How to turn fear into joy

The shepherds’ initial response was fear. In fact, the Bible uses a stronger verb. According to verse 9, they were “terrified.” However, by the time we get to verse 20, their fear turns into glory and praise. 

There were four steps that changed their fear into joy.

1. Listen to someone who knows—the angel from God

2. Surround yourself with the right people.

3. Look upon God’s work and son.

4. Trust the evidence.

2. Jesus’ Humble Beginnings

The Messiah’s birth is in a manger, an unconventional and humble setting. 

Not just an animal’s manger, but shepherds were called. The lowest of the lows. God did not call the kings and noblemen to go see and tell others, but the most unappreciated sheepherders. I know a man who owns a giant ranch in Africa. He hires guards for $100 a month. He hires “goat herders” for $30 a month. That is what they are called: goat herders. No one dreams of being a goatherder. It is essentially the goat herders that God sent His angel to tell about Jesus being born. He chose the lowest rungs of society to tell about the greatest event that had ever happened. Yes, it was humble beginnings for a great God.

3. The key to Personal Evangelism – learn from unlikely places

Luke 2:16-18 

[16] So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. [17] When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, [18] and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 

When you see Jesus for yourself, you will tell others. Others will be influenced for good.

4. Prompt Response

The shepherds’ immediate action to visit the baby Jesus highlights the importance of responding swiftly to God’s revelations.

We all need to learn the lesson that the best time to do what God wants is now. We are not guaranteed any other time.

Lonnie Davis

Event 5: The birth of Jesus – Matthew 1:25a, Luke 2:1-7
Because this text is short and beloved, rather than summarizing the text, let’s read Luke 2:1–7.

[1] Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. [2] This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. [3] And everyone went to his own town to register.
[4] So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. [5] He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
[6] While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. [7] And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

From this well-known story, we can see many details, but for this lesson, I call your attention to four.

1. In the birth of Jesus, God used a political decree to orchestrate events to fulfill prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. (See Micah 5:2).
   Without a decree by Caesar, Joseph likely would not have subjected pregnant Mary to the nearly 100-mile trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Mary may or may not have ridden on a donkey, the Bible does not say, but the common mode of transportation for such a trip was walking.
2. Mary made the difficult journey to Bethlehem while heavily pregnant. We are not told how long after Mary arrived that Jesus was born. It may have been a few weeks. Certainly it would not have been a frantic race to find a place for birth just as they got to town.
3. Despite His royal lineage, Jesus’ birth circumstances were extremely humble; he was born in a stable with a feeding trough as a crib.

Due to our culture being so different from those in the ancient Middle East, the idea of a stable is often misunderstood. If you have seen a “nativity scene,” Jesus is always depicted as being born in an animal shelter. The truth was likely different.

In ancient Middle Eastern homes, especially those in smaller towns like Bethlehem, it was common for families to have a space within their house where important animals were kept, particularly during cold weather. It is plausible that the “stable” where Jesus was born could have been a part of the house where Joseph’s family lived. It might have been a lower level or a back room of the house, but maybe not a separate building as often depicted.

4. The Creator of the universe entered the world as a helpless infant, demonstrating His humility. All we can say is wow. If it were my son, I would have made him born as a prince and given him special privileges. I would have been wrong. Our Father knew best and knew that if Jesus were to be tested in all points like we are, he needed to experience life even as we do.

Lonnie Davis

Event 4 – Joseph’s Dream and Obedience Matthew 1:18-25

After Mary spent three months with her cousin, Elizabeth, she returned home. There is one more story in the Bible that we will not cover because it is about the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57–80). After Mary returned home to Nazareth, the next story is about Joseph’s response to this shocking circumstance. Here is a summary of today’s text.

SUMMARY:
Mary, betrothed to Joseph, is found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, a righteous man, intends to secretly break off their engagement but has a dream visit from an angel. The angel explains that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and will save people from their sins. Joseph obeys and takes Mary as his wife, naming the child Jesus.

Three Insights

1. Joseph’s Righteousness: (Matthew 1:18-19)
   When Mary showed up pregnant, Joseph had two choices. (1) Divorce her privately or (2) charge her publicly.
   For Joseph to divorce Mary privately demonstrates his compassion and justice while shielding her from shame in public. The whole village knew she was betrothed to Joseph, so if he hadn’t accused her of being unfaithful, many would have concluded the child was his and thought Joseph had abandoned his future bride.
   If he charges her publicly, he appears righteous, but Mary is made to look like an immoral woman.
   With the choice he finally makes, Joseph is more concerned about Mary than he is about his own reputation.
2. Role of Faith and Obedience: (Matthew 1:24) Joseph’s acceptance of the angel’s message and his decision to marry Mary anyway, despite societal norms, highlights the importance of faith and obedience to God’s guidance. Joseph didn’t just believe Mary and the angel. He acted on that belief. He did the right thing. We can measure a person’s faith by what they do and not by what they say.
3. The Humble Beginnings of Jesus: Jesus was born to a common workman and a teenage girl. They are not rich or famous, yet God picked them. Certainly, this ought to remind us that God cares more about character than he does about wealth.

Lonnie Davis

In yesterday’s devotional, Mary made her choice. Yes, Lord, I will have the baby and name him Jesus. Today describes what Mary did next. What would you do when facing such a circumstance? Would her family believe her when she tells them why she is expecting? Every day they would see her get bigger and wonder who the man is. And where he is?
Our text today tells us about it. You should read the verses to get the full story, but for now, here is a summary.

SUMMARY: Luke 1:39–56
Our verses today describe Mary’s visit to her relative Elizabeth, who is also pregnant. Upon Mary’s arrival, Elizabeth’s baby leaped in her womb. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizing Mary as the mother of the Lord. Mary then expresses her joy and faith in God through a hymn of praise, praising God for His blessings and His mercy towards those who fear Him.
From this story there are three insights that you do not want to miss.
Three Insights

1. Honor to whom honor is due.
   Elizabeth saluted Mary as “the mother of my Lord.” There was not a trace of jealousy in her heart, only joy and delight that the unborn baby would be her Lord.
2. Why Mary Left Home for a While.
   We are not told why Mary went to visit Elizabeth at this time. It may have been to avoid the scandal that would inevitably arise in Nazareth when her condition became known. If this is so, then the welcome given by Elizabeth and the kindness shown would have been doubly sweet.
3. Going Back Home
   After staying with Elizabeth for about three months, Mary returned to her own home in Nazareth. She was not yet married. No doubt, she became the object of suspicion and slander in the neighborhood as she got back home. Aunts, cousins, neighbors, and friends would not be as accepting as was Elizabeth. Mary went home to face all this. Mary, the teenage girl, did all this for the sake of the story of Jesus.
   Don’t ever wonder why God chose Mary. When you know her story, you know why.
   Lonnie Davis

In a tiny village called Nazareth, a young girl, maybe 13–15 years old, was busily going about her life. Like other young girls her age, she would start her day at sunrise, do household chores, learn from her mother, and dream about her own home someday. One day, like a bolt of lightning on a clear day, her life changed. Her name was Mary.
The angel Gabriel told her about the impending birth of Jesus, the Christ. Luke tells us about that event.

In case you don’t get to read that story today, let me summarize Luke 1:26-38 for you.

SUMMARY: Luke 1:26-38
In these verses, the angel Gabriel visits Mary, announcing that she will conceive a baby. She will call him Jesus. He will be the Son of God, through the Holy Spirit. Mary is puzzled as to how this could happen; after all, she is a virgin. Despite her initial surprise and uncertainty, Mary accepts this divine calling with humility.

FOCUS VERSE: Luke 1:38

For this devotional thought, we will focus on verse 38.
After the angel tells Mary that God has chosen her to have the Christ child. Her response was:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

From this great story, there are three pictures you must see:

1. A Picture of a True Submission.
   Mary’s response exemplifies complete submission to God’s will, despite the potential personal challenges and social stigma she might face with an out-of-marriage pregnancy. This is a lot to put on a young teenager, but she is ready for whatever God wills. She has a submissive heart.
2. A Picture of Real Faith
   Her acceptance shows a profound faith, trusting in God’s plan even though she does not fully understand the implications.
   Today, one of our favorite words is why. We want to know why we should do anything we are told to do. Mary knew nothing about what was about to happen, yet she didn’t say “why.” She says, “Yes.”
3. A Picture of Young Humility.
   Mary refers to herself as the servant or handmaid of the Lord. She was on a path to do something that would be greater than any woman or man who had ever lived, yet to her, she was just a servant. People often see a young person and say, he or she is mature “for their age.” Mary was humble, mature, and a great servant for any age.

Lonnie Davis

P.S.
Tomorrow, Mary goes to live with her cousin, Elizabeth.
Event 2: Mary visits cousin Elizabeth – Luke 1:39-56

I was planning to start with the announcement of the birth of Jesus, but the story of John the Baptist is so amazing that I couldn’t skip it.

First Event 0: John the Baptist’s birth foretold – Luke 1:5–25)

Let’s start by summarizing the 20 verses for today.

During Herod’s reign, the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah, a righteous priest. Gabriel announces that Zechariah’s elderly wife, Elizabeth will bear a son named John, who will be great and filled with the Holy Spirit, preparing people for the Lord. Skeptical, Zechariah is struck mute until the prophecy’s fulfillment, demonstrating God’s power and faithfulness.

There are three thoughts in this passage that truly amaze me.

1. Man’s “things just worked out” is often God working things out.

Look at verse 9. It says that Zachariah “was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.” In that temple, Zachariah met the angel. Surely all believers understand that he was not merely “chosen by lot,” it just looked that way to man. God was working behind the scenes to make things happen. We need to remember that God works behind the scenes for us as well.

2. God remembers our prayers long after we stop praying them.

I love verse 13. As he is in the temple, “The angel said to him, ’Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.’” As our story continues, Zachariah challenges the angel that he and his wife are both too old to have children. The angel said, “your prayer has been heard.” I wonder how many years since he had prayed that prayer. Zachariah and Elizabeth had probably stopped praying for a son as they got too old. God took his old prayer and answered it.

3. I especially love verse 19. In verse 18, Zachariah tells the angel that it can’t happen because of their age. The angel responds, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”

That is an amazing job description, “I stand in the presence of God.” I wish Zachariah had said, “Tell me about that.” The amazing thing is that we too will stand in his presence someday.

I share these things because I don’t want you to miss them.

Read today’s passage and you will see them.

Lonnie Davis

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Our scripture for today is Luke 2:10–11.
“The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!’”

My favorite title for any study of Jesus’ parables is “The Greatest Stories Ever Told.” Indeed, they are, but the best title for a study of the life of Jesus is “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”

Over most of the next year, in chronological order, we will read the entire story of Jesus. We begin with the announcement of his birth to Mary and end with Jesus ascending to the Father. Along the way there are 229 different events in his life.

Obviously, we could spend years reading and studying his life. I hope you do, but for our daily devotion, we will read his story a little each day. This will only take about eight months and will be a wonderful use of our time.

In 2-3 minute bites, we cannot read every selection from the Bible. We will note where each event is in the Bible and then leave it up to each person to accept the challenge of a daily Bible reading for that day’s study. From that day’s reading, we will select one or two significant verses and dive deeper into his life.

Tomorrow, Event #1 – The Birth of Jesus foretold – Luke 1:26-38

I will leave you with an amazing poem about Jesus, written in 1926. After a century, it still remains a masterpiece.

One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village.
He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty.
He then became an itinerant preacher.
He never held office. He never had a family or owned a house.
He didn’t go to college. He had no credentials but himself.
He was only thirty-three when the public turned against him.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone,
and today he is the central figure of the human race.

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed,
all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned
have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that
One Solitary Life.
– by James Allen Francis

Lonnie Davis

Jesus had been crucified and buried. On the third day, his tomb was empty. Word began circulating among the believers that Jesus got up from the grave. He even appeared to the Apostles, when he did, one of them was missing, Thomas. The believers told Thomas that Jesus was alive. Now we come to our reading for today, John 20:24-25

“Now Thomas, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’”

From this story, we have the phrase, “Doubting Thomas.” This is a terrible term to put on Thomas. Thomas was not doubting that Jesus could not get up from the grave; he just wanted to see the evidence. He questioned the words of Peter, who denied Jesus. He lacked faith in the words of James and John, who greedily tried to get the highest spots in a new kingdom. We don’t know the weaknesses of all the apostles, but it should be noted that it was mere men that Thomas doubted.
Finally, Jesus appeared to Thomas also. The minute he saw the evidence of the resurrection, he said to Jesus, “My Lord and My God.”

If you want to see the real Thomas, let me take you back a few weeks earlier. In John 11, Jesus told the apostles he was going to go back to Judea. The Apostles warned him that people there would try to kill him. The apostles were concerned, but not Thomas. In John 11, the Bible tells us,

“Then Thomas…said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him.’ (John 11:16)

To me he is not a doubting Thomas, but a courageous Thomas. The lesson from Thomas invites us to embrace our doubts and uncertainties as part of our spiritual journey. Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it’s often a stepping stone towards a deeper faith. Thomas’s story encourages us to seek the divine, to ask questions, and to yearn for understanding.

The story of “Doubting Thomas” is not just a tale of skepticism; it’s a reminder that our doubts and questions can lead us to a deeper, more meaningful understanding of our beliefs. It’s a call to embrace our spiritual journey in all its complexity, with its blend of doubt, inquiry, and revelation.
Lonnie Davis

How Beautiful Heaven Must Be

From my back porch, I have an unobstructed view of the rainforest of Puerto Rico. It is amazing to watch the rain roll into the tops of the mountains and to hear the coqui frogs at night. I haven’t travelled much so I can only imagine all the glorious creations of God that many of you have seen.

If I could ask you, you might tell me of snow-capped mountains, clear blue oceans, waterfalls, lakes, streams, or beautiful meadows. Such beauty everywhere!

Every now and again, I come across a thought so well said, that I have to write it down. Some time ago I found one such thought.

“If God hath made this world so fair, Where sin and death abound, How beautiful, beyond compare, Will paradise be found!”

The poet is saying, if you think that things are beautiful down here, wait till you get to heaven. You will be amazed and speechless.

The Apostle John saw heaven and In Revelation 22:1–5, wrote that he saw, 

“A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”

Imagine seeing that stream flowing from the throne of God. Imagine seeing the throne of God. We will get to see the tree of life. We will see countless angels all around. 

The sun will never set in heaven because no sun is needed. God is the light of heaven. One thing that will be absent from heaven is a cemetery. There will not be a single grave in heaven, for there is no death there.

I want to go there. I have people waiting for me. I’ll bet you do too.

Lonnie Davis