Luke 1:67-80

Being free, it seems, is tricky business. The saying goes, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” and this is just as much a truism in faith as it is in life. Salvation doesn’t come without a price on our part. As Luke records the words of Zacharias in 1:74-75, “To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all of our days.” We may be free from sin, but we have a new master, God Almighty. (This is the same thought that Paul writes about in Romans 6:22.)
But isn’t this what our heart longs for anyway? Isn’t this just what we want deep within our souls – to serve God?
God delivers us from “our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us.” (1:71) And he delivers is into His loving hand.
What better way to live than to be saved for His service.

Luke 1:57-66

What’s in a name? Well if that name is given by God – everything. The name “John” means “God is gracious.” Luke doesn’t make a big deal about the definition, but he does make a big deal about the way he got his name. The crowd wanted to give him the same name as his father – Zechariah, but his parents would have none of it. Their son was to be named John, because that is the name that the angel Gabriel had given to Elizabeth. And, judging by the fact that Zechariah received his voice back, it was a good choice.
These verses got me to thinking about Revelation 2:17 and God’s promise to give us a new name. The world is always trying to name us – hypocrites, biggots, fanatics, but God has a much different names for us – forgiven, disciples, sons & daughters. The challenge in life is to ignore the crowd and listen to God. He has a new name for us. It is time for us to let Him name us instead of the world.

Luke 1:46-56

Humility is a necessity if we are to be God’s servants. Four times in this passage Mary says or alludes to humility.

• It was in humility that she was chosen as God’s servant.
• God scatters the proud (i.e. – those that are not humble).
• God brings down the rulers, but lifts the humble.
• God sends the rich (i.e. – proud) away, but fills the hungry.

Why is humility so important? Because it is in humility that we get out of the way and let God work. Humility is recognizing that we are not worthy of the loving grace that God offers us, but God (through Christ) offers it to us anyway. And it is when we are humble that we are willing to let God work through us. No longer do we have the attitude that we are working for God, but that God is working through us.
Only when we get to the point that we are ready to fully submit to God in all humility will God truly be able to do the great works he has planned through us.

Luke 1:39-45

Though the NIV translates it “blessed is the child you will bear!” (42), I like the New American Standard (NAS), which is closer to the Greek, “blessed is the fruit of your womb!” [In general, I like the NAS for study and the New Living Translation (NLT) for reading. The NIV is a good balance between the two.] I guess in part I like the language because it makes me think of “Fruit of the Loom” and people dressed up in large fruit costumes. Just a short, strange foray into my inner thoughts.
The question I have is how did Elizabeth know Mary had a fruitful womb? There’s nothing in Mary’s greeting that mentions her pregnancy. One has to assume she knew because the Holy Spirit revealed it to her. The baby John leapt within her to show he knew as well. They were so in touch with the work of God that they immediately knew the presence of Christ.
Am I (or you) that in touch with the working of the Holy Spirit that I am aware of His presence?