Daily Reading:
Luke 1
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Dedication to Theophilus
1 Many have undertaken to compile a
narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as the
original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. 3 It
also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the
very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus,
4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been
instructed.
Gabriel Predicts John’s Birth
5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there
was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the
daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in God’s
sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of
the Lord. 7 But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and
both of them were well along in years.
8 When his division was on duty and he was
serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot,
according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord
and burn incense. 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people
was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the
right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and
overcome with fear. 13 But 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 will name
him John.
14 There will be
joy and delight for you,
and many will
rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be
great in the sight of the Lord
and will never
drink wine or beer.
He will be filled
with the Holy Spirit
while still in his
mother’s womb.
16 He will turn
many of the sons of Israel
to the Lord their
God.
17 And he will go
before Him
in the spirit and
power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts
of fathers
to their children,
and the disobedient
to the
understanding of the righteous,
to make ready for
the Lord a prepared people.
18 “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked
the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel,
who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you
this good news. 20 Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until
the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which
will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for
Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come
out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision
in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless. 23 When
the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth
conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 “The Lord
has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my
disgrace among the people.”
Gabriel Predicts Jesus’ Birth
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel
was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to
a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And
the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”
29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of
greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her:
Do not be afraid,
Mary,
for you have found
favor with God.
31 Now listen:
You will conceive
and give birth to a son,
and you will call
His name Jesus.
32 He will be great
and will be called
the Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God
will give Him
the throne of His
father David.
33 He will reign
over the house of Jacob forever,
and His kingdom
will have no end.
34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be,
since I have not been intimate with a man?”
35 The angel replied to her:
“The Holy Spirit
will come upon you,
and the power of
the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy
One to be born
will be called the
Son of God.
36 And consider your relative
Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth
month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with
God.”
38 “I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May
it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary set out and hurried
to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah’s house
and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped
inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she
exclaimed with a loud cry:
“You are the most
blessed of women,
and your child will
be blessed!
43 How could this happen to me, that the
mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your
greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me! 45 She who has
believed is blessed because what was spoken to her by the Lord will be
fulfilled!”
Mary’s Praise
46 And Mary said:
My soul proclaims
the greatness of the Lord,
47 and my spirit
has rejoiced in God my Savior,
48 because He has
looked with favor
on the humble
condition of His slave.
Surely, from now on
all generations
will call me
blessed,
49 because the
Mighty One
has done great
things for me,
and His name is
holy.
50 His mercy is
from generation to generation
on those who fear
Him.
51 He has done a
mighty deed with His arm;
He has scattered
the proud
because of the
thoughts of their hearts;
52 He has toppled
the mighty from their thrones
and exalted the
lowly.
53 He has satisfied
the hungry with good things
and sent the rich
away empty.
54 He has helped
His servant Israel,
mindful of His
mercy,
55 just as He spoke
to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his
descendants forever.
56 And Mary stayed with her about three
months; then she returned to her home.
The Birth and Naming of John
57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to
give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that
the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 When they came to circumcise the child
on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60
But his mother responded, “No! He will be called John.”
61 Then they said to her, “None of your
relatives has that name.” 62 So they motioned to his father to find out what he
wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote:
HIS NAME IS JOHN.
And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately
his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising
God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were
being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard about
him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed,
the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s Prophecy
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled
with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 Praise the Lord,
the God of Israel,
because He has
visited
and provided
redemption for His people.
69 He has raised up
a horn of salvation for us
in the house of His
servant David,
70 just as He spoke
by the mouth
of His holy
prophets in ancient times;
71 salvation from
our enemies
and from the
clutches of those who hate us.
72 He has dealt
mercifully with our fathers
and remembered His
holy covenant—
73 the oath that He
swore to our father Abraham.
He has given us the
privilege,
74 since we have
been rescued
from our enemies’
clutches,
to serve Him
without fear
75 in holiness and
righteousness
in His presence all
our days.
76 And child, you
will be called
a prophet of the
Most High,
for you will go
before the Lord
to prepare His
ways,
77 to give His
people knowledge of salvation
through the
forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of our
God’s merciful compassion,
the Dawn from on
high will visit us
79 to shine on
those who live in darkness
and the shadow of
death,
to guide our feet
into the way of peace.
80 The child grew up and became spiritually
strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to
Israel.
Key: Bold - Verse of the Day
Reflection: Our journey is coming to a familiar end. Think about the joy felt by both Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. One too old to conceive, one a virgin, God's hand on both. As we prepare for Christmas morning, think of the miracles that you have witnessed within the last week, and how your heart received them.
Discussion Topic: Tonight, step away from the computer and spend the time normally spent discussing things to be present with your family as eagerly celebrate the arrival.
Prayer: Father, thank You for making the impossible, possible. We take this time to focus our eyes on the marvel of the story of Life. Lord God, You made a way for our hearts to return to You. We are forever grateful. Bless our time tonight as we gather with friends and family to share in Your joy. In Jesus name, Amen!
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