Two passages in Luke 1 are often called “songs” because of their similarity to the Old Testament psalms. The Magnificat of Mary (Luke 1:46-55) is well known. But the “Benedictus” (Luke 1:67-79), which is taken from blessed or praise, the first word in the Latin translation, is less known. Filled with Old Testament quotations and allusions, the Benedictus speaks of the work of the Messiah and the work of His messenger (Luke 1:69,80).
The opening and closing verses of this song of praise tell of the God who came for a visit. We’re called to “praise the Lord . . . because he has visited . . . his people” (Luke 1:68), and because “the Dayspring from on high has visited us” (Luke 1:78 NKJV).
Why did God visit us? We were in deep trouble, and He came to save us. “He has . . . redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior” (Luke 1:68-69). That’s what Christmas is all about. God saved us, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of His mercy (Luke 1:72,78). Our “salvation [is] through forgiveness of [our] sins” (Luke 1:77).
Why did God save us? We’re saved so that “we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness” and live purposeful and holy lives (Luke 1:74-75). He came that we might live out His new creational ways, joining Him in building His kingdom on earth.
When God came for a visit, the Jews didn’t welcome Him. Jesus rebuked them because they didn’t accept Him and their opportunity for salvation (Luke 19:44).
Today, the same divine Visitor comes and knocks at the door of your heart. And He isn’t seeking a short visit. He wants to take up residence in your heart and make it His home (1 John 3:24, 4:15). Will you open the door and let Jesus in?
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 2 Peter 1:2-21
More:
Read Ephesians 2:8-10 to see why God has provided salvation for you.
Next:
Have you opened the door to Jesus so He can come and live with you? What does it mean to have the divine Visitor dwell within you?
Gary Shultz on December 24, 2016 at 5:56 am
Good words K.T. “And He isn’t seeking a short visit”. I like those words K.T. He never has the short game on His mind; Christ always sought relation with redemption. Why He has done this work through creation, through the cross, and into eternity? I can only think it was because He wanted to (love) and because He can (wisdom, might, and power). We just stand speechless before Him in Praise. Thank you K.T. , Thank you Lord.
gagirllive on December 24, 2016 at 6:14 am
Amen, K. T.! A “Savior” was born. It was a rescue mission. The Divine Visitor came to save us—from our sins, to Himself, and for His glory! I’m so very grateful He visited me…and moved in to stay. Thanks for this good word today, K. T., and for all the many wonderful devotionals you’ve written to encourage us on ODJ. I look forward to more in the coming year. A blessed and joyful Christmas to you!
carlpozyck on December 24, 2016 at 7:10 am
To say that the Jews did not accept Jesus as Messiah is leading many astray by promoting a lawless kingdom culture through convincing Christians that the Torah (Law) does not apply to them, thus continuing a false, pagan, syncretistic system of worship. There were many Jews who did, and are now accepting Yeshua as the Savior and King. In fact, you can go through the entire New Testament and see that not only did the Apostles and disciples continue to keep the Law, but founded new congregations everywhere which advocated the Law as the standard of holiness in God’s Kingdom. I ever wrote a paper on it in college as part of my work toward my Biblical Studies degree.
The biggest evidence of Jews becoming believers was the first celebration of Shavu’ot (Pentecost) after the resurrection of Yeshua. Those were three thousand Jews from the Diaspora who were in Jerusalem that day, when Peter witnessed to the multitude. God used one of His feast days (not a “Jewish” feast, as many will have you believe) to begin to bring the promise of the Great Commission into fulfillment. In fact, He has used His feasts of the Spring to accomplish His First Coming, and will manifest Himself through the Autumn feasts to usher in the Second Coming. It will be wise for the Church to repent and turn from the wickedness that it is practicing with its pagan traditions back to the Torah, which is its true heritage in Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus). His kingdom is the kingdom of Israel, so the Church is deceiving itself if it thinks it has replaced Israel as God’s Chosen People. We have been grafted into the natural tree, not sprung up as an entirely different tree.
gagirllive on December 24, 2016 at 7:39 am
Wow. Just curious…where did you get your Biblical Studies degree?
hsnpoor on December 24, 2016 at 12:19 pm
I’m curious about that too….
sandy229 on December 24, 2016 at 6:36 pm
What, no answer yet? Please let me know when you find out, I would really like to know.
tim gustafson on December 28, 2016 at 9:12 am
Hi, I don’t think KT checks this forum. He’s a friend of mine, so I’ll try to find out via email and let you know. He is a pastor in Singapore.
sandy229 on December 28, 2016 at 10:07 am
Thank you Tim. Actually I was referring to what GAgirl and hnspoor wrote in response to what Carl said about taking a Bible Studies course. I didn’t expect KT to answer anything personally, but thank you so much for taking the time with us that you always give. Shalom
hsnpoor on December 24, 2016 at 8:15 am
Of course the early church consisted of Jewish converts who spread the Good News of Christ to the Gentile nations and, God, as was His plan, graciously grafted those Gentiles into this new order of relationship with Himself, as explained so eloquently by the Apostle Paul in Romans 11. No one who is well acquainted with scripture would or could refute that. My reading and understanding of scripture is that when reference is made to “the Jews” in the Gospels, it is referring to the Jewish leaders of the day, not the common Jewish people. It was the common Jews who recognized Jesus as their Messiah and acted on that belief by defying the Jewish leadership of the day. Indeed, even a few of the leaders, like Nicodemus, also converted. So, let’s not build a straw man to knock down to make a point that any right-believing Christian would not refute. The Pharisees WERE a lawless kingdom culture because they had become a law unto themselves, which God used to blind them to the visitation of their long-awaited and sought after Messiah when He came, for God’s purpose & plan to offer salvation to the whole world! The point of contention is not what Christians think of Jews, but what we think of and do with The Law and Jesus. If you have made the choice to labor under a hard taskmaster, which is what the Law is, rather than to accept the grace-filled gift of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ ALONE from God the Father, I don’t understand it, but I do recognize and accept that is your choice to make. However, I earnestly and honestly pray God will speak to your heart in such a way that you will see things differently and come to Jesus, His way, while the blood still runs warm in your veins that you may experience and enjoy your freedom in Christ by allowing him the presence, power and place to fulfill the Law in you and not continue to be yoked by and under the Law, on your own, and insist that others be so as well. To God and God alone be the Glory!
gagirllive on December 24, 2016 at 8:25 am
Amen and amen!
sandy229 on December 24, 2016 at 10:05 am
Amen & Amen!!
sandy229 on December 26, 2016 at 10:32 am
The dynamic of God’s grace speaks these truths: 1) that God has been reconciled to the world through Christ’s sacrifice( Romans 5:10); 2) the unmerited favor, the unconditional acceptance that we receive from God (Ephesians 1:6) and 3) and empowerment for a task (1 Corinthians 15:10). Taken together, these truths bring believers to a place of genuine freedom, where we are free to obey God, not to obtain His favor, but because He has already given us His favor. Within His unconditional acceptance given us because of what Christ has done, we are freed from the need to monitor our behavior and loosed in the joy of knowing His friendship. Focusing primarily on our righteousness only only diverts our attention from His loveliness — which ultimately erodes our dependence on Him to produce in us the beauty of His character. Grace underscores the generosity of God’s love, highlighting the truth that God does not coerce change by threatening us, but instead He conquers by lavishing His love upon us. His grace frees from wearying , self generated endeavors and releases us to allow His Holy Spirit within “giving us the power and desire to do what pleases Him” (Philippians 2:13).
hsnpoor on December 30, 2016 at 3:52 am
Yes!