Woven

We still have some of our chapter left to read, and it's so good. But, I think we should start with Luke's Christmas story. His is the most popular version we read at Christmas. So, take a moment and read from your Bible before reading Angie's book. In your journal, take note of anything that sticks out to you after our full study of the Old Testament and preparation for Jesus.

Read: Luke 2: 1-19

There is so much in that passage of scripture that is meaningful. I'd love to camp on every piece. We have too much reading to do. So, I'll just hope that you spent some time reflecting in your journey, and I will share just one thing from verse 6,

And it came about the while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

That is a fairly basic verse. But, after a full study of the Old Testament, I love the reminder that God is the author of time. The time had come for the baby (for salvation) to be born. Praise the Lord!

Now, read the remainder of our chapter in Woven, pages 194-205.

I pray your time in Luke and Woven is meaningful to you today. There is so much to cover, and I am trusting the Holy Spirit will do it in each of our hearts as we study independently today. Please pray for the Lord to lead and follow Him wherever He takes you.

If you want to go back to Luke's Gospel and reflect on Jesus' coming as Luke remembered it, please do that.

If you want to use your journal to take notes on some of the things Angie Smith taught us about the culture at Jesus' time, please take out your journal and do that.

I don't know if you've been watching The Chosen series. It's just fantastic. I keep watching the episodes over and over, because I'm so ready for the next episode to be released (and I have a really long wait). I love the series, because it helps me get a real picture of what life with Jesus could have looked like. In Scripture, we've read about how the Jewish culture that had waited for Jesus to arrived rejected Him when He got to them because He came differently than they expected. In the series, we've gotten to see what that could have looked like.

I love all of the episodes, and they really are all my favorite. One of the best scenes was at the end of Season 1 after Jesus had the interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well. The disciples couldn't figure out why Jesus had taken so much time for this woman. Peter (always the talker) said, "Well, that was different." And, Jesus responded, "Get used to different."

Why do we have so much trouble with different? Why can't we accept that God's ways have always been different than we've expected? Unless we learn to accept these truths, we will miss out on participating with Jesus in His work here on earth. It's heartbreaking to watch the characters in the series rebel against Jesus and His way, to plot and plan for His demise, and to stew in anger and Jesus' popularity, because they're missing the rescue that they've been waiting for so long to experience. And, they're missing it because it's too different.

God, Your precious Son came to the earth to rescue us, to save us, to fulfill what You've promised from the beginning. The religious missed it. Through the Holy Spirit, You are still doing the impossible here on earth. You are still rescuing and changing lives. Please don't let us miss it. Cause us to look for and to expect different. Give us boldness to join You there. Amen