10/21/2013人子的降臨

經文:路加福音1－2章

中心思想:路加福音1：26，2：1-20

提要

        集醫生、史學家、作家──寫下篇幅最長的福音書（共1151節）──於一身的路加醫生，在本卷書一開頭就陳明他的寫作目的是：「使你知道所學之道都是確實的」（路1：4），緊接著就以兩個與眾不同的男孩──施洗約翰與彌賽亞耶穌的奇妙誕生為中心，詳實的敘述了一番。

每日與主同行

        你可曾注意到聖徒和詩歌似乎都是在一起的？上帝的子民相聚時，總是很自然的享有來自音樂的讚美、感謝及崇拜的氣氛，一位被聖靈充滿信徒應該會表現出：「用詩章、頌詞、靈歌、彼此對說、口唱心和的讚美主」（弗5：19），即使你不擅歌唱，仍能向上帝發出由衷的讚美。
        馬利亞跟以利沙伯分享她將生救主的好消息後，以一首詩歌為結束（路加1：46-55）；撒迦利亞極有信心的表明兒子的名子後，聲音就恢復了，他禁不住歡欣歌唱（路1：67-79）；耶穌降生在伯利恆，天使天軍高歌宣揚這個好消息（路2：13，14）。
        你想現在就唱出（或說出）你對上帝的讚美嗎？大聲朗誦今天經文裏的馬利亞之歌、撒迦利亞之歌和天使之歌吧！如果自己寫一首就更好了，總之，用詩歌讚美上帝永不過時！

默想

多產作家的開場白
        新約中誰的著作最多？__________
        新約中誰的篇幅最大？__________
        如果第一個問題你的回答是保羅，那你可就對了！如果第二個問題你的答案還是保羅，那你可就錯了！路加的兩本書──以他的名字為主題的福音及使徒行傳，所包含的經文節數，比一共十三本的保羅全集還多呢！

金言

音樂的目的應該是榮耀上帝與取悅世人。－－巴哈

Arrival of the Son of Man

Scriptures:Luke 1-2

Heart of the Passage:Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-20

Overview

        Dr. Luke—physician, historian, and writer of the longest gospel account (1,151 verses)—clearly states his purpose for writing in the opening verses of his book: "That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed" (1:4). He begins with the details surrounding the miraculous births of two remarkable boys; John the forerunner, and Jesus the Messiah.

Your Daily Walk

        Have you ever noticed how saints and songs seem to go together? It's hard for people of God to congregate without spontaneously enjoying the atmosphere of praise, thanks, and worship that music provides. One mark of a Spirit-filled believer is "speaking ... in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart 10 the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). Even if you can't sing, you can still speak forth the majestic praises of God that are in your heart!
        When Mary shared with Elizabeth the good news about a Savior to be born through her, the result was a song (1:46-55). When Zechariah's voice returned after his faith-inspired declaration of his son's name, he couldn't help but sing (1:67-79). When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the heavenly hosts of heaven declared the news in a song (2:13-14),
        Do you feel like singing (or speaking forth) the praises of your Lord right now? Then read out loud those songs of Mary, Zechariah, and the angels in today's reading. Better yet, compose one of your own. Praising God in song is never out of date!

Insight

The Opening Chapters from a Prolific Pen 
        Who wrote the most books in the New Testament? ______ 
        Who wrote the most material in the New Testament? ________
        If you guessed Paul as the answer to the first question, you're right! If you guessed Paul as the answer to the second question, you're wrong! Luke's two books—the gospel that bears his name and the Acts of the Apostles—contain more verses than the 13 hooks attributed to Paul combined!

Adage

"The object of all music should be the glory of God and pleasant recreation. " —Bach