Today's Passage - Luke 1:1-7

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 1:1-7   "Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.  In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly."   The purpose of the Gospel of Luke is to outline the chronicles of Jesus Christ for the future generations to read, and so people would know that everything they've been taught are true.  We thank the Lord because our faith did not come out from nothing, but it is a proven faith.  When Luke recorded the events of Jesus Christ in chronological order and historical context, we know that our faith has historic proof that carries factual evidence.   Zechariah was a priest that serves God in the temple.  He was old and had no children, and such a person was not respected in the society of his day.  He, however, was very faithful, as he routinely fulfilled his responsibilities as a priest before God whenever his turn came up.  There were lots of priests back then, and they didn't live in the temple, but they just waited at home, for they did not have that many opportunities to serve in the temple in their entire lifetime.  He was an ordinary man, but God likes to listen to the prayer of ordinary people.  We can see in the Bible that God often revealed Himself to ordinary people; not only did the resurrected Lord reveal Himself to the twelve well-known disciples, in 1 Corinthians 15 we also see that He revealed Himself to more than five hundred believers whom were mostly unknown ordinary people.   We sometimes feel that we have many flaws, thinking we are not beautiful and smart enough, thinking we are too ordinary and no one really values us.  Lord Jesus Christ, however, came to the world to tell you that He values you, and God has chosen to love you.  This is such a precious message!      Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, although we are as ordinary as Zechariah, we thank you because you love each one of us.  No matter how ordinary we think we are, may your love speak to us and touch our hearts.  Let us bring forth thanksgiving to you, and we love you because you have first loved us.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!