Eagle Brook Church Blog

Read Your Bible: Luke (Day 1)

by Don Graffam
Campus Pastor, White Bear Lake

Luke 1:1-38

SCRIPTURE: As we dive into the book of Luke, I’m amazed to watch the direct communication between God and his people. In Luke 1:6-38, we have two remarkable stories about God interrupting a few unsuspecting people with life-changing and world-changing news. We read in verses 5-25 about Zechariah, who was deeply involved with his religious duties of the day when God interrupted him via an angel. His response was disbelief. When the angel told him he would have a child (11-17) his response was doubt (18) and the consequence was the loss of his voice (20).

A few months (and verses) later, Mary has a similar encounter with the same angel (28-33) and although her response is also one of a question (34), the angel explains what will happen (35-37), and Mary gives the best response possible.  Wait for it—”May it be to me as you have said (38).”

To me, the humor in this is that Zechariah—who was a priest, who was in the temple, who had people outside the temple praying for him, who was approached by an angel— was the one who expressed distrust and doubt.

He was the one who most people would say was the “spiritual” leader, yet he was the one that doubted.

However, the young woman was the one who heard what God said, listened to what had to feel like an impossible message and said, “May it be to me as you have said.”

APPLICATION: Two questions I take away from this.

1. Am I attentive to God’s voice? If God sent a literal or a figurative messenger, would I recognize it/him/her or would I dismiss it?
2. Do I have the guts to respond like Mary? When I hear God asking me to do something that appears impossible, or even something that appears simple, will I respond with courage?

PRAYER: God, I pray for a heightened awareness today. Help me to hear your voice through whatever messenger you want to use. I pray that I’ll be attentive to your voice and that I’ll have the courage to respond courageously no matter how big or small the task is. May it be to me as you have said!

During the “Text: Get the Message” series, we are journeying through the book of Luke together as a church. Join us Nov. 7-18, as Eagle Brook campus pastors and worship pastors share their scripture reading with us. For more information on The SAP method, click here.