Day 74 Bible Readings – Luke 1: 46-55 (ESV)

Numbers 2 & 3, Luke 1: 39-56, Psalm 44: 1-12

Luke 1: 46-55 (ESV)

Verses 46 through 55 from Luke 1 is Mary’s song of praise when she was visiting her cousin Elizabeth. These verses are about Mary and her son Jesus Christ. The writers of The Chosen series produced a Christmas special with Mary asking Mary Magdalene to write these verses down to give to Luke. The story of how these verses came to be in Luke is fictional, but it is such a creative way to represent these verses in a television program. The writers of this scene also managed to have Mary say these verses in their entirety in the scene.

Enjoy this scene depicting Luke 1: 46-55 from The Chosen Christmas Special:

Day 73 Bible Readings for March 15 - Luke 1: 38 (ESV)

Numbers 1, Luke 1: 26-38, Psalm 43

Luke 1: 38 (ESV)

“And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”

In verse 38 from Luke 1, we read about Mary’s response to the Angel Gabriel when he told her she would conceive a son. Mary had such incredible faith. She must have known what being pregnant without being married might have meant for her. Mary was still not married to Joseph, and he could break the marriage contract and abandon her because of her pregnancy. If Joseph did abandon Mary, she could receive the death penalty for having a child while she was still betrothed. Despite knowing all the pitfalls of what the pregnancy would cause in her life, Mary agreed and told the Angel Gabriel she was God’s servant and would accept whatever God’s plan was for her life. I don’t know if I would have Mary’s faith if an Angel appeared to me with some crazy plan of God’s for my life. I would like to think I would have said Yes as Mary did, but I don’t think that I would be to predict my actions until I was faced with a similar decision. I do know I would have told the angel, I would do it but only with God’s help. I know I could not do it on my faith alone.

Day 72 Bible Readings – Luke 1: 18-20 (ESV)

Leviticus 26: 14-46, Leviticus 27: Luke 1: 1-25, Psalm 42: 7-11

Luke 1: 18-20 (ESV)

“And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

In verses 18-20, we read about Zechariah’s questions and doubts to the Angel Gabriel and the results of his doubt. Zechariah was a devoted man to God, but when the Angel Gabriel gave him news of the upcoming birth of his son we see his doubts. Elizabeth, Zachariah’s wife, was old and for her to birth a son would have been a miracle. Even though Zechariah was a devoted man to God, he couldn’t believe what the Gabriel had told him. Zechariah and his wife had probably spent years praying for a son, so to have a son now in their old age would have been unbelievable. I can understand Zechariah’s doubts because he had probably given up on ever having a son, and to have his prayers answered now must have seemed crazy. Zechariah needed a sign, even though the Angel Gabriel speaking to him was not enough of a sign. I felt bad for Zechariah in these verses because I so understand his doubt. He didn’t want to be disappointed again, even though it was a miracle in and of itself that the Angel Gabriel was speaking to him. The news of his son having such a prominent role in the coming of the Messiah must also have seemed to be unbelievable to Zechariah. Zechariah was punished with muteness for his doubts, but God was still merciful to him because Elizabeth still became pregnant. In these verses we see an example of how even devoted people have doubts about God in their life, and of God’s mercy for these people despite their doubts.

Day 71 Bible Readings – Leviticus 25: 23 (ESV)

Leviticus 25, Leviticus 26: 1-13, Mark 16, Psalm 42: 1-6

Leviticus 25: 23 (ESV)

“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.”

In verse 23 from Leviticus 25, God reminds Moses and the people of Israel that everything belongs to God including the land. God also tells us to remember we are strangers and sojourners on his land. I love this verse because it is a reminder that earth is not our home, and that our true home is in heaven with God. If we are citizens of heaven, then while we are on earth it means we are totally dependent on God because we are sojourners on his land. Being citizens of heaven also means that our life on earth is transient, so our dependence on God for guidance to follow his divine plan becomes even more important. I like the idea of thinking myself a sojourner on God’s land, because then it makes sense that I need to follow God’s rules and plan for myself on his land.